A Hampshire police officer has been nominated for a national bravery award following the sea rescue of a drowning woman.

The prestigious annual Police Bravery Awards will this year hear of a police officer who pulled a vulnerable woman to safety from the sea.

On the 12th April 2014, at 4.40pm PC Nathan Lucy responded to a call reporting a vulnerable female who had left a nearby mental health facility and had made threats to end her own life.

The officer then heard over his radio that a woman had jumped into the sea from a pontoon at the Red Funnel ferry terminal in Cowes.

When PC Lucy arrived shortly afterwards, he ran to the end of the pontoon and took off his body armour and utility belt. He could see the woman being swept out to deep water and that she was struggling to keep above the surface.

The officer knew if he entered the water at this location he stood little chance of catching her, as she was being taken by a fast moving current.

The officer ran back up the pontoon and sprinted down the High Street to the Island Sailing Club where the woman was now approximately 40 metres away from him. PC Lucy shouted at the woman to swim towards him but she gave no response.

Knowing that the woman was in a desperate state of mind, and that he had moments to take action to save her life, PC Lucy removed his boots and jumped into the sea.

The water temperature (5°C) immediately took his breath away and he could feel how strong the current was. He said: 'I started to swim towards the female, continuously pleading with her to swim in my direction. I could feel that the current was very strong and I had to use all my available strength to swim against it.'

A passing yacht had stopped about 20 metres from the woman and threw a life-ring into the water towards her but the woman ignored it and continued to be pulled away by the current.

After several minutes in the water, PC Lucy got nearer the woman, and was, by now, tired from fighting the current and shouting constantly for the female to cooperate. He had taken a life-ring into the water but on getting very near to the woman the line attached came to its end and he lost hold of it. He reached the woman and instinctively went to grab hold of her but as he did she kicked out, striking the officer in the chest.

PC Lucy lost his bearings as he struggled to keep his head above the water. He shouted again at the woman but she continued to lash out at him.

PC Lucy grabbed the woman’s leg and pulled her towards him. He later said: ‘By this time, I was now starting to struggle myself as the current was very strong and I was weakening with trying to stay afloat as well as physically struggling with the female. I didn’t think I was going to make it.’ PC Lucy then pulled the female closer to him but she grabbed his shirt and pulled him under the water. The officer started to choke as he was pulled under the water again and again by the female. PC Lucy came to the surface and found the life-ring was next to him. He grabbed it and took hold of the woman’s hair and pulled her backwards to disorientate her so she would stop fighting with him.

At this point PC Lucy had lost all of his strength and was now himself at risk of drowning. Fortunately, a member of the public, who had ran to the end of the pontoon had now started to pull on the rope attached to the life-ring, this assisted him in getting the woman to the pontoon. As the pair were dragged back to safety, the woman became unconscious. She was immediately pulled onto the pontoon and given lifesaving medical treatment.

PC Lucy said: ‘When the female kicked me and dragged me under the water I could feel myself getting weaker, I was at risk of drowning. I used all my available energy to get control of her and with the assistance of the member of the public pulling on the rope she was brought to safety. I couldn’t have managed without his assistance.” Following the incident PC Lucy received a Commendation for Bravery from his Chief Constable, Andy Marsh.

John Apter, Chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, said: “The swift, brave and selfless actions of PC Nathan Lucy saved this female’s life. Despite the danger the officer was in himself he persisted and managed to get the woman to safety where she received lifesaving treatment. PC Lucy is a credit to the Constabulary, he is a life saver. ”

Andy Marsh, Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary, said: “I am struck by PC Lucy’s bravery and humility. Without doubt his actions saved the life of another, I am immensely proud of him.”