A POLICE inspector who pulled two children from the car involved in a collision on the M4 has been given a bravery award.
Inspector James McKenna was off duty when he was travelling between the Tormarton and Hambrook junctions and saw that a collision had happened involving a lorry and a car.
Two children were trapped in the car’s back seat.
With emergency services not yet on the scene, Insp McKenna parked up and leapt into action, pulling the young boy and teenage girl from the car.
Despite his efforts, along with other police officers and paramedics, the boy died, but the girl recovered after hospital treatment.
A police investigation into the collision, which happened on March 26 last year, is still ongoing.
In July, Insp McKenna, who is an incident manager in the force control room, received a Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal of Bravery at the National Police Bravery Awards in London.
He said: “Over my 24-year career, I have seen a lot, but when there is a child involved, it really knocked me and affected me.
“I really want to recognise my colleagues who responded to this incident. We have all been deeply affected by what happened and they supported me in trying to save the young boy.
“I was the first one on scene but there are others behind the scene and supporting with the wider investigation I want to recognise.
“We are trained to preserve life, so I don’t see this as being particularly brave, I just see this as doing my job and running towards the fire instead of away from it.”
Chief Constable Sarah Crew said: “Inspector James McKenna’s actions were nothing short of heroic and they exemplify the highest standards of some of our core values – to have courage and to care.
“This was a very traumatic situation and that has an impact on anyone faced with it.
“I could not be prouder of James and the journey he has been on since that day. He has been an advocate for our trauma-informed and support services and has since gone on to encourage his colleagues to seek that support when they need it.”