Police officer swims into river after men jump from Bideford bridge.
A Bideford police officer pulled a man from the Torridge River after he jumped from Bideford's Long Bridge.
Two men jumped into the River Torridge near Bideford Quay at 12.45am this morning.
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Bideford bridge
Bideford PC Jeanne Hellyer braved the cold waters and dived into the estuary to rescue one of the men, who was lying faced down in the water and unconscious.
She pulled the man to the water's edge where fire fighters helped take him out of the water.
An officer attempted to resuscitate the 40-year-old from Bideford, who was then transferred to the intensive care unit at North Devon District Hospital.
An 18-year-old from Ilfracombe who was pulled from the water by volunteers from Appledore RNLI was also taken to the hospital.
Torridgeside police inspector Shaun Kenneally said: "I am extremely pleased with the actions of my officers in the manner in which they acted this morning, in particular PC Jeanne Hellyer.
"Entering the water under these circumstances can be extremely dangerous but the fact that she was able to get the casualty to dry land shows that she assessed the incident accurately before attempting the rescue. Not everybody would be able to do this.
"Her colleague PC Graeme Teasdale was also very professional in the way he administered first aid as soon as he was able."
The officers involved say they hope the man, who remains in intensive care, will pull through.
The police were called to the incident by a pair of passers-by who had seen them in the water.
They threw a life ring into the water and tried unsuccessfully to persuade the two men back onto dry land.
Three fire engines from Bideford and Appledore and inflatable walkways from Barnstaple were sent. The coastguard also alerted Appledore RNLI who launched their inshore boat.
Inspector Kenneally added: "The two members of the public played an important role by throwing the life belt to him and trying to encourage him to shore and we would ask them to contact us.
"I would also like to thank the other emergency services that arrived on scene promptly to assist."
Niki Tait, press officer for Appledore RNLI, explained volunteer members played an important role in the rescue after a call-out in the early hours.
"We got a request from the coastguard at 12.49am and we launched the inshore boat," she said.
"When it got to the bridge, it also requested the all-weather boat and the boarding boat to be on stand-by, so it was a full launch."
Crew members from the inshore boat rescued the second man from the water, handing him to paramedics on shore.
The next of kin of the two men have been told about what happened, police say.
Officers would like to speak to the man and the woman who attempted to rescue the men with the life belt.
They are asked to call the police on 08452 777444 quoting log number 36 190209.
24 Comments
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by Been There, Barnstaple
Monday, February 23 2009, 11:55AM
“Oh dear another round by somewhat biased individuals who feel that they have to bash the authorities every time they perform a duty that they are far from incapable of doing themselves.
You have almost got to be fruit loopy to suggest that the police are going to ask a young female officer along with a couple of members of the public to jump in just for a PR stunt. Did they all pack their thermal wetsuits before jumping? I hope so because it was below 8 degrees in that river. If that was the case I can't wait to see their smiling faces beaming for the camera when the next edition of The Journal arrives on my doorstep.
A very brave and committed officer, much more needed in society than those who sit at home with a sticky CAPS LOCK key playing armchair Generals. CHANCE you really need to get out and get a life and contribute to society before performing a critical analysis of the actions of this brave officer and members of the public who assisted her. To bring mention of our Armed Forces into this is also insulting to them. They perform their duties in a very different arena under exceptional conditions that they signed up to. The army are in a very different role to the police and we should all appreciate and value them (apart from those who spend time at COLCHESTER.) not drag them into an argument and use them to bash the police.
Good work by the officer I hope she is commended for her unselfish act.”
by chance, bideford
Sunday, February 22 2009, 11:34PM
“stop telling me what to do stop criticising me you really are stupid all u go on about is my grammar well you might be good with a keyboard than me but so what , this poor bloke jumped in to rescue this young lad and has recently in the last few hours passed away and your still going onabout me well dont push it think of others for once instead of continuously insulting me you very CLEVER ANON PERSON!!!rest in peace sean and love to your family true hero !!!!!”
by Anon, North Devon
Sunday, February 22 2009, 11:12PM
“Chance - You have clearly lost it!!, can't spell and have a bit of an itchy caps lock finger. You say you originally came on to comment on this story but even in that comment went spouting off in all sorts of directions, (armed forces, sugeons, doctors and nurses need i go on!). It's not that i don't want you to comment just try to provide some reasoning to your comment when you do, AND STAY OFF THE CAPS LOCK!!.
However, this is all put sharply into context by the previous comment from Claire and i would very much echo her thoughts.”
by Claire, Bideford
Sunday, February 22 2009, 9:55PM
“Unfortunately, our friend hasn't pulled through! My heart goes out to his family and children! RIP to a lovely bloke! So brave!xxx”
by anon, bideford
Sunday, February 22 2009, 9:18PM
“Well done to the ambulance crew who managed to revive the man once the fire crew had managed to get him out the water. It was lucky they didn't have a young police officer to resucitate as well.
I hope the chap pulls through, it would be a shame to loose his life over someone who had no regard for his.”
by chance, bideford
Sunday, February 22 2009, 8:48PM
“to anon bideford if your getting bored of me then dont read the police have an interest in me as i do the police and i am entiltled to voice my opinion on the way they work as i have ben on the end of it . KEEP READING THE PAPERS ANON YOULL SEE WHY I HAVE SO MUCH INTEREST IN NEGATIVITY TOWARDS THE POLICE. BYE THE WAY I ORIGINALLY GAVE ONE COMMENT ON STORIESI WANTED TO COMMENT ON ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO KEEP BRINGING MY CASE INTO IT . WHY YOU SO INTERESTED WHY ARE U ALLOWED TO COMMENT YET DONT LIKE ME TO COMMENT > DONT TELL ME WHAT TO DO YOU MAKE ME SICK WHY HAVE YOU ALL GOT TO BE ANON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by Richard, Northam
Sunday, February 22 2009, 4:09PM
“giggleot, you appear to be suffering from some sort of mental illness as your comments are not normal. I fear you hatred of authority is going to to bring you in to an early grave.
To the wpc who jumped in to the Torriidge, well done! that was a brave act, ignore the idiots that post negative comments about you, you can rest assured that these lazy low life wouldn't be able to get out of their beds to do what you did!”
by Anon, North devon
Sunday, February 22 2009, 11:33AM
“Chance - do you have nothing better to do than spout your bitterness re the police (who of course still have thier own interest in you!) on every story on this website that you can, i for one am getting bored of it now.”
by anon, Bideford
Sunday, February 22 2009, 12:39AM
“Yeah lets just hope the young lad realises and appreciates what our friend has done for him which is saved his life that he didn't even want that night! His life has been spared but our friends may not be!”
by anon, bideford
Saturday, February 21 2009, 10:52PM
“why praise the wpc up when i did exactly the same 12 years ago infront of 2 pc's and saved a man and the 2 pc's didn't want to get their toe's wet and that was on bideford quay in front of an audience and unlike them i was'nt on wages.”