Two Metropolitan Police officers have been praised for their bravery and swift action in saving the life of a woman trapped under the rear wheels of an articulated lorry. Inspectors Steph Day and Patrick Allen, who were off-duty from their roles as Tactical Firearms Commanders, happened to be nearby when the incident unfolded.
The officers’ rapid intervention prevented the woman from losing both her legs. “I heard a scream, and we immediately knew something serious had happened,” Inspector Day recalled. “What I wasn’t expecting was for her to be awake and talking, despite her injuries.”
The two officers, who typically handle developing firearms incidents across London, immediately applied their skills to assist the woman, remaining calm in the face of her critical injuries. “I was just really pleased that we were in the right place at the right time,” Inspector Day said. “Her injuries were potentially catastrophic, but I knew that between us, we could make a difference.” Inspector Day also noted that they were close to the Royal London Hospital, which boosted her confidence in the woman’s chances of survival with timely care.
Inspector Allen shared his experience of assisting the woman, saying, “It became second nature, but there were moments when I was holding her hand, and I realised how hurt she really was.” He later visited the woman in recovery, expressing admiration for her resilience. “She is miraculously walking again and is planning to complete a mountain hike in Iceland, which is inspirational,” he said.
Both officers have since moved into new roles, with Inspector Day now working within Residential Protection for the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection team, while Inspector Allen leads an Emergency Response Team in Hackney. Despite their different roles, the two officers have remained close friends.
Reflecting on their partnership, Inspector Allen said, “Steph is a lovely, funny person who made work a joy. I hope we can work together again.” Inspector Day echoed his sentiments, praising Allen’s sense of humour and support during challenging operations.
In recognizing the dedication of front-line officers, Inspector Day emphasized, “There are thousands of officers working on the front line of policing in London and across the country who do exactly this type of thing every single day. We were just in the right place at the right time—every single one of us would have done the same.”
