Hero cop runs into burning house to save woman after arson attack

A cop has been hailed as a ‘hero’ after running into a burning house to save a woman trapped inside. Body camera footage captured PC James Cantrill sprinting into the property, which had been torched by arsonist Clive Hawker while a woman slept inside.

Police were called to the blaze in Lingmell Close, West Bridgford, Nottingham, just after 3 am on July 19 last year. After entering the smokey home, he found a woman trapped in her bedroom, helping her downstairs before firefighters arrived. She was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation but has since made a recovery.

Arsonist Hawker, who lived at the address, had set fire to his own home after lighting a blaze in a wheelie bin. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next.

Hawker admitted arson with intent to endanger life and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and is set to be sentenced on April 3 at Nottingham Crown Court. Nottinghamshire Police have praised PC Cantrill for his bravery, but Cantrill said: ‘You join the job to help people and when dealing with situations like this you realise the need for quick thinking and positive action, often putting the needs of others before your own.

‘I managed to gain access to the home and locate the woman through thick smoke. She was lying on the floor and in a confused state. She was suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation and was clearly very frightened. ‘I moved her to an open window, where we had to stay until the fire service arrived with breathing apparatus for us both to use to exit the house. Time was vital and my instinct to preserve life was paramount throughout the incident.

He added: ‘I’m pleased to have helped her and she was very grateful. It was a great relief to discover she had not suffered serious injury and has made a full recovery.’. DC Tony Tonks, who investigated the house fire, said: ‘PC Cantrill demonstrated immense bravery in locating this woman through dense smoke. I have no doubt his dynamic decision-making saved her life.

‘A detailed investigation by officers has now led to Hawker admitting these very serious offences. ‘Lighting any fire can have catastrophic consequences and it is thanks to PC Cantrill, and other officers working with fire service colleagues, that no one suffered serious or lasting injury following this incident.’.

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