Skegness asylum seekers and police praised over sea rescue

A drone was used to locate the woman in the sea

Asylum seekers staying in a Skegness hotel helped prevent a woman from drowning.

The three men raised the alarm after noticing the woman was in distress at the Lincolnshire resort on 28 April.

Officers who entered the water, in darkness, to rescue her have now received Royal Humane Society awards.

Andrew Chapman, the society's secretary, praised both the officers' bravery and the asylum seekers' alertness.

He said: "It's only thanks to the splendid teamwork of the police and the alert from the asylum seekers that a woman had been seen in the sea that the woman was saved."

As the officers received their awards at a ceremony in Lincoln, further details emerged about the rescue.

Three police officers waded into the sea at Skegness to rescue the woman who was spotted by asylum seekers staying in a hotel

Lincolnshire Police said the rescue was launched after the men alerted hotel staff to the woman in difficulty and they called the emergency services.

Sgt Simon Watson, PC Christopher Hine, PC Jack Craft and PC David Sharpe were deployed to the scene.

The woman, who has not been named, was taken to hospital where she was treated for hypothermia.

Sgt Watson and PC Hine were both awarded Royal Humane Society Testimonials on Parchment and PC Craft was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from the society.

In addition, all four officers were presented with the chief constable's commendation.

Ch Insp Lee St Quinton said: "Our officers would say that running into the freezing cold sea at Skegness - without hesitation in the pitch black of night - to help save the life of a woman in need of help, is just part of the job.

"Some people think the job of a police officer is all about sirens, blue flashing lights and arrests, but there's so much more to it. It's about being in the right place, at the right time, to help people who most need us, and doing things that change the lives of others."

Other than those made by the Crown, the Royal Humane Society awards are said to be the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.