Sergeant Steve commended for his icy water ordeal

On Wednesday, Assistant Chief Constable Tony Toynton presented Sergeant Steve Grace of the Traffic Division at Bexhill with a Sussex Police commendation for his actions.

Mr Toynton said: We are very proud of him. The police service could not ask anyone to do what he did. He stood in the water for over an hour to organise things. He did what a sergeant is expected to do, organise resources and get things moving.

We are proud of him and grateful to him - but the people who are really grateful are the people of Robertsbridge.

Sergeant Grace s immediate boss, Inspector Natalie Carron, said: He is resourceful and capable and so professional.

This is recognition of his professionalism and commitment to the public, whether it be saving lives on the road when there is a traffic problem or standing armpit-deep for an hour in freezing water.

Sergeant Grace, who has 15 years police service, said: The water really came up very quickly. We had been called to a fire, probably an electrical fire caused by the flooding. The river was only just starting to breach the banks and I was only ankle-deep in water.

But by the time I got down there it was indoors and it just kept rising until it was past my waist. That was when it started getting really cold...

There were two people in the house. They were not in danger. But they were fairly elderly and were waiting for the fire brigade to rescue them.

I just kept them by the window where they could get fresh air until the fire brigade arrived.

The commendation said Sergeant Grace s action was of the highest order and dedicated solely to the safety of others.