Five hero police officers who tried to save family from burning home in Northamptonshire village nominated for bravery awards

Sergeant Will Barr, who was then a PC, PC Brad Bowman, PC Nik Hawke, PC Chris King and PC Lewis Desborough have been recognised for their actions during a fatal house fire in Rushton, in which Emma Conn, her little girl Mayci Fox, and Louie Thorn tragically lost their lives.

They have all been nominated for a national Police Federation bravery award, up against officers from around the country who have shown huge courage during the course of their job.

When officers arrived, at the large former station house on 28 March 2025, it was already engulfed in flames.

Brad ran towards the burning building carrying a first aid bag, preparing to provide emergency care to any survivors.

He said: “The house was engulfed in fire. The flames were on the ceiling, the walls, everywhere.”

Two British Transport Police officers were already on the scene assisting a survivor who reported that several people remained trapped upstairs after the internal staircase had collapsed.

Brad volunteered to climb a ladder positioned beneath an upstairs window where the occupants were believed to be trapped.

He said: “Someone threw a wet towel over my head, and I climbed up the ladder to try to get in the bedroom window.

“The only way I can describe the heat was like opening an oven door and standing too close, but times it by a thousand.

“All I was thinking was there are people in there and there's a child in there the same age as my son.

“I tried my best to get in but was hit with this wall of heat, which nearly knocked me off the ladder.

“Your head's saying you need to go in and help them but it's like there's a force field of heat stopping you.

“It got to a point where, if I stayed up there or if I managed to get in, I wouldn’t be able to get back down.”

Will, Nik, Chris and Lewis meanwhile, were searching for another way inside the property.

The officers were determined to reach the people inside, despite facing overwhelming heat and falling debris.

Will said: “It felt like my cheeks were melting and I was fighting all the fear and pain in my body because the only thing on my mind at that time was to do what I can to get them out.”

Chris said: “When I got there and saw the situation, I knew it was going to be a moment I would never forget.”

Nik added: “I have been to several fire callouts but, with this one, you could see the glow on the way to the incident. You could feel the heat as we got closer to the fire.”

Will described the moment the officers committed to entering the building together.

He said: “Lewis and Nik said we would go in together and come out however that may be.

“There were flames coming through the floorboards and we knew that we might not get out but their only hope was us.”

Chris smashed a window to gain entry. Inside, conditions were almost unbearable. The officers crawled through thick smoke as burning debris fell around them.

Nik said: “Inside, the hollow area of the house was engulfed in flames, and the stairs had been completely burnt through.”

As conditions deteriorated further, the officers were in danger of becoming trapped.

Will said: “I remember Nik shouting 'the roof is falling in’.”

Chris added: “At the moment tiles and slates were falling from the ceiling, we just had to get out. In another 10 or 20 seconds, we would have been trapped.”

The officers withdrew only when it became clear they could no longer continue safely.

Nik said: “Something fell and dropped down the back of my body armour.

“That hurt, but it made me look up and see that it was time to get out. Will’s hair was actually steaming.

“The heat was ridiculous. The hair on my arms was singeing. The bottom of my boots had melted.”

After leaving the property, Nik became dizzy and was taken to hospital suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Will said: “The biggest thing for me is that I hope the family know there was a group of people doing absolutely everything they could to get to that family.”

"It still bothers me that we could not save them and I would do the same again if I had to.”

Brad added: “I know I did the best I could and put myself at massive risk, but it sort of eats away that I couldn't save them.”

Echoing their comments, Lewis said: “I still remember the incident like it was yesterday. My heartfelt condolences remain with the family. It was a tragic incident that no one should ever experience.”

Northamptonshire Police Federation Chair Sam Dobbs said. “It must be every police officer's nightmare to arrive at an incident such as this prior to the experts from the fire and rescue service.

“Police officers have to make split-second decisions, with their core role to protect life central to their actions.

“There is often a fine line between recklessness and bravery. Society should be very thankful that these officers were prepared to be selfless enough to put their own life at risk to save others.

“The officers were faced with an unimaginably difficult and dangerous situation, and their instinct was to run towards the danger in the hope of saving others.

"They showed exceptional courage in circumstances that, thankfully, most people will never experience.

“They continued searching for ways to reach those trapped inside despite the overwhelming conditions and only withdrew when it became impossible to continue safely.

"While the outcome of the incident was heartbreaking, the officers displayed the most incredible bravery to try to prevent the loss of life.

“On behalf of the Federation branch, I wish them all the best for the awards."

Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet said: “Their actions display the very best of policing. What they came across that day was a scene of complete devastation and a tragedy. Risking their own safety – their only aim was to save and help others. The courage and bravery displayed are commendable. They should be very proud of their actions that day.”

The national awards take place this evening (July 9)