TWO Gwent Police officers have been nominated for police bravery awards after putting their lives at risk during a water buffalo attack.
PC Mark Burbidge and PC Owain Smallwood responded to calls that two people had been attacked by a water buffalo in the Monmouth area in May 2020.
When they arrived, they found that one man - later identified as businessman Ralph Jump - was dead, and another - Mr Jump's son Peter - had been seriously injured.
PC Burbidge could see that Mr Jump's wife Josephine and daughter Isabelle were also in the field, using poles to try and distract the buffalo away.
He entered the field and shouted to the two women to leave.
He approached the buffalo, just as it charged at Isabelle Jump, knocking her to the ground.
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PC Burbidge ran towards her, picking up two poles as he did so, and began beating them to distract the animal.
He struck the buffalo, allowing time for the young woman to crawl away.
PC Smallwood arrived on scene to help.
The officers formed a protective line between themselves and the buffalo to allow the Welsh Ambulance Service to treat the victims.
Ralph Jump, 57, from the Gwehelog area, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Peter Jump, who was 19, also died after being taken to hospital.
Isabelle Jump also sustained a serious injury to her leg.
The actions of PCs Burbidge and Smallwood allowed the safe landing of HeliMed to recover the men.
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