THEY were two dramatic rescues that helped save lives.
Now, 12 Humberside Police officers have been rewarded for their outstanding bravery under pressure.
Eight of the officers resuscitated funeral director David Cogan after he suffered a massive heart attack while recovering a body on the banks of the Humber.
The other four clung on to a man who was threatening to jump off the Humber Bridge for an hour before he could be rescued.
All have been given awards by the Royal Humane Society for bravery in saving life.
Nick Barton, a police communications technician involved in the Humber Bridge rescue, said: "Other people might think you are going above the call of duty, but you are just doing your job. It is very humbling to be recognised for it in this way, though."
Mr Barton was called to the bridge in October last year when a man, who was clutching a bottle of vodka, had climbed over the railings and was threatening to jump.
He arrived as the man slipped from the 6in ledge, almost falling 100ft into the freezing water.
"I saw two officers reach through the railings and catch him," he said. "I had just arrived and jumped out of my van and ran over. We then had to take turns holding on to him as he was swaying on the ledge.
"He had his back to the water and definitely would have fallen in if we hadn't been holding on to him."
Mr Barton used a belt, ropes and handcuffs to secure the man to the railings, while his colleagues held on to him.
They remained there for an hour, waiting for specially trained firefighters to arrive and move him.
"It was only afterwards that I thought about what we had done," he said.
"I was just pleased we were able to help him. His mum was on the bridge near the toll booths and I know she was very pleased."
Mr Cogan, 52, was helping police officers after they removed a body washed up near Welton Waters when he collapsed.
The eight officers and a paramedic took it in turns to perform CPR for almost an hour before he was airlifted to hospital. He spent weeks in hospital and was put into a coma before undergoing a triple heart bypass.
Mr Cogan, who attended the ceremony at which the officers were given the awards, said: "I would have been dead if it wasn't for them."
The officers commended for saving David Cogan were Detective Inspector Paul Kirby, Inspector Phil North, Sergeant Gary Jackson, Sergeant Emma Park, PC Alistair Young, PC Gill Williams, crime scene investigator John Smith and a PC who cannot be named.
Inspector Phil North was also involved in the Humber Bridge rescue and was commended along with Detective Inspector Ian Schramm, Detective Sergeant Mark Ormiston and Nick Barton.
