FOUR Kidderminster police officers who fought to save a young mum and her son from a flat fire have been rewarded for their brave efforts.

Sgt Jake Wright, PCs Emma Gunnell and Steve Yapp and special constable Glenn Smith were on duty on the evening of November 27, 2014 when the fire broke out in a flat above a shop in Horsefair, with Sandra Nowocinska and her five-year-old son trapped inside.

They managed to save the life of the boy and resuscitate 22-year-old Sandra, but sadly she died in hospital several days later.

However, thanks to the efforts of the officers there was time for her family to be with her before she died.

Now they have all been awarded Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificates for their life-and-death battle.

PC Gunnell and SC Smith were on uniformed patrol when they came across the fire. They radioed for assistance and Sgt Wright and PC Yapp who herd the call made their way to the scene.

The fire service then arrived and firemen went into the blazing building and re-emerged carrying the lifeless body of the little boy.

Sgt Wright immediately began administering CPR on him alongside a fire officer who provided oxygen and shocked the boy with a defibrillator.

Despite their efforts, the boy initially remained unresponsive. SC Smith joined in helping with resuscitation tubes and face masks.

As this was taking place Sandra, who was also showing no vital signs of life was brought out of the building and PCs Yapp and Gunnell took it in turns with two fire officers assisting to administer CPR to her.

Sandra’s son eventually regained a pulse but was not breathing and SC Smith carried gave him the kiss-of-life for around 20 to 30 minutes until a doctor arrived. He then travelled with the boy as he was taken to hospital.

Thanks to the continued CPR administered by PCs Yapp and Gunnell, Sandra also regained a faint pulse and was taken to hospital with the two officers continuing to administer CPR in the ambulance.

Although she later died, her boy went on to make a complete recovery thanks to the efforts of the officers.

Royal Humane Society secretary, Dick Wilkinson said: “This was a horrific fire. There is no question about it – if it had not been for the efforts of these officers mother and son would both have been declared dead at the scene.

“Amazingly the little boy went on to make a complete recovery. Sadly his mother died later, but the efforts of these officers ensured that she was in the best possible condition to have a chance of survival when she was handed over to the doctors. And the several days that she remained alive gave relatives a chance to be with her. These officers all richly deserve the awards that have been made to them.”

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the awards which have been made following a recommendation from West Mercia Police, but it is expected to take place in the near future.

*Kidderminster man Mark Moat was cleared of arson the manslaughter of Sandra Nowocinska at a hearing in February 2016.