A POLICE detective has received one of the force's most prestigious commendations after his actions saved a woman's life.

Detective Sergeant James Hardingham has been awarded a Chief Constable's Commendation for his bravery and quick-thinking actions.

The former Essex officer, who now serves with the Metropolitan Police, was off duty walking his dog in Braintree on October 6 last year when he noticed several members of the public trying to rescue a woman from the River Blackwater and went to help.

While the others rang 999 and one looked after his dog, James got down the steep, muddy riverbank and into the river, with disregard for his own safety, to pull the woman out of the water.

However, she struggled to break free from his grip, determined to re-enter it.

Braintree officers, PC Dean Bell, PC Amanda Butler and PCSO Stuart Stranger, then arrived and helped James to prevent the woman from causing herself any further harm.

The four officers carried her up the steep riverbank where they were met by an ambulance.

Dean, Amanda and Stuart have received Chief Superintendent’s Commendations from their local policing area Commander for their part in the rescue.

James said: “All the time, I was talking to the woman, trying to identify what the issues were.

"I had to get into the river to keep her head above water and then pull her up on to the bank. It was quite difficult.

“But then the Essex officers arrived and helped me to get her up the bank, make sure she was safe and that she got the help she needed.

“You just switch off and just deal with what’s in front of you. You don’t think about anything else.

"My main thoughts were that I’d got to look after her, I’d got to make sure she didn’t go back in the water, I didn’t want the members of the public to get hurt and I wanted to make sure everyone was safe.

"You disregard whatever happens to yourself.

“It’s nice to be honoured but you are just doing your job. You just deal with it.”