Striking firefighters left their picket to attend a flat blaze - only to discover hero police officers had already carried out the rescue.
Modest - PCs Daniel Jordan and Ian Hardy dragged the woman from the blazing flat Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL FVH3C2
A woman is now recovering in hospital after being dragged from her flat in York Road, Southend, by policemen. She was the first casualty of the 48-hour fire strike in south Essex.
The officers leapt into action after spotting smoke billowing from a top floor flat in York Road, Southend, yesterday.
PC Ian Hardy and PC Daniel Jordan battled through thick black smoke to pull 21-year-old Barbara Phiri to safety.
Nine minutes later, two Green Goddesses, under police escort, arrived to put out the fire. Striking firefighters left their picket line, in Sutton Road, to offer help when they heard lives were in jeopardy.
But the situation was under control and they were not needed.
Barry May, Southend branch chairman of the Fire Brigades Union, refused to comment on the firefighters breaking their strike action.
Miss Phiri was taken by ambulance to Southend Hospital and PC Jordan, PC Hardy and another officer, PC Pat Lyons, were treated for smoke inhalation.
PC Daniel Jordan and PC Ian Hardy today insisted they were just doing their jobs. But Chief Insp Tony Payne, of Southend police, said: "This was a good example of police officers putting themselves at risk to help a member of the public.
"I am very proud of PC Jordan and PC Hardy."
More in today's Evening Echo
Published Friday November 15, 2002
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