Police officers commended for finding missing Shropshire woman
Two police officers who may have saved the life of a 26-year-old woman lost in remote Shropshire hill country, have been commended for their actions.
Dog handlers Sergeant Pat Garrett and Police Constable Peter Jones co-ordinated the successful search for the woman who went missing during a night-time visit to an area of the Stiperstones hills in April.
They have been awarded West Mercia Police Superintendent's Commendations for their "determination, commitment and professional response resulting in the woman being found. She was suffering from dehydration and hypothermia and the officers were instrumental in ensuring she survived and made a full recovery".
The woman, who had been with two other people, became separated in a wooded area following an argument. Her colleagues searched for several hours before returning to Shrewsbury.
She was reported missing to police at 8.20pm on April 30, some 18 hours after last being seen and it was apparent her safety was at high risk.
At 10pm, dog handlers Sergeant Garrett and PC Jones were asked to co-ordinate the search. They carried out a systematic search of the area where the woman had last been seen in darkness and extremely difficult conditions.
After checking paths and tracks, they worked through a widespread area overgrown with brambles and dense undergrowth. The Force helicopter was utilised but its thermal cameras w Cars stolen in Clive burglaryere unable to detect any images.
Knowing the woman was classed as high risk and possibly lying injured, the two officers continued searching for around three hours, determined to persevere despite their own tiredness and the prospect of the search being suspended until first light.
Their determination and commitment to duty eventually paid off. A faint voice was heard responding to the officers' shouts and she was discovered lying in an isolated and dense area of scrub. She was in a weak state suffering from dehydration and hypothermia. She was taken by police 4X4 to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital as the location was too remote for an ambulance to reach.
Inspector Simon Lewis, the superivising officer, said: "The woman had been missing for well over 24 hours spending the best part of two nights stranded in an exposed upland area. It's quite possible she may not have survived the duration of that second evening if she had not been found, especially if the weather had deteriorated.
"Without the persistence and determination of Sergeant Garrett and PC Jones, she may not have been discovered that evening. They took control of the incident, liaising with air control to ensure a systematic search was conducted. It is due to their professionalism and dedication to duty that she was traced and in due course able to make a full recovery".
