Police inspector recognised for actions during M4 crash
Inspector James McKenna, known as "Paddy" to his colleagues, was nominated for his selfless actions during a collision on the M4 on March 26 last year. The inspector was off duty when he encountered a collision between a car and a lorry between junction 18 (Tormarton) and junction 19 (Bristol). The collision left the rear of the silver Volkswagen Polo crushed.
With traffic building and no emergency services present, Inspector McKenna took immediate action. The driver and front seat passenger managed to escape the Volkswagen, but two backseat passengers, a teenage girl and a seven-year-old boy, were trapped. Despite the car smoking and a strong smell of fuel, Inspector McKenna managed to pull the two children from the wreckage.
Despite his efforts, and those of other officers and paramedics, a seven-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene. The teenage girl was discharged from hospital a few days later. 
"A day I will never forget"
For his actions, Inspector McKenna has been awarded a Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal of Bravery.
He attended the National Police Bravery Awards 2025 on Thursday, July 10, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Inspector McKenna from Avon and Somerset Police said: "March 26 last year is a day I will never forget. "Over my 24-year career, I have seen a lot, but when there is a child involved, it really knocked me and affected me.
"I really want to recognise my colleagues who responded to this incident. 
"I just see this as doing my job"
"We have all been deeply affected by what happened and they supported in trying to save the young boy. "I was the first one on scene but there are others behind the scene and supporting with the wider investigation I want to recognise.
"I am not ashamed to say that, before last year, I would have never considered seeking support for the trauma we see day-in, day-out. "I would say I had become quite hardened to the job over my career, and would normally roll up my sleeves and soldier on, but having your own children and then seeing that - it hits harder than anything else. "I did seek support after what happened, and I did have to take some time away to consider, look back at what happened and seek support, and now that I have, I would urge others to never suffer in silence and do the same.
"It sounds cliche but I am incredibly humbled and honoured to have been nominated and stand side-by-side with so many heroes and heroines. "We are trained to preserve life, so I don't see this as being particularly brave, I just see this as doing my job and running towards the fire instead of away from it. "If this whole incident has taught me anything, and if anyone reading this either inside or outside policing reads this, I hope they take away one thing: The help is there and it is a service people should engage with."
"Exceptional bravery and selflessness"
Chief Constable Sarah Crew said: "First and foremost, it would be remiss of me to not recognise the family at the heart of this. "The loss of a child is a pain like no other and my deepest condolences and sympathies go to the young boy's family. "Inspector James McKenna's actions on 26 March last year were nothing short of heroic and they exemplify the highest standards of some of our core values - to have courage and to care.
"Despite the serious and obvious risk to him, James demonstrated exceptional bravery and selflessness by entering a high-pressure, dangerous situation in order to rescue and strive to save the lives of two young children. "His quick-thinking, unwavering determination, decisive action and incredible bravery makes him a very worthy candidate for this national award."
"Extraordinary courage"
Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody said: "Inspector James McKenna displayed extraordinary courage and selflessness in the way he responded to the events that unfolded before him. "That he was off duty only emphasises his dedication and unwavering commitment to public safety."
An investigation into the collision remains ongoing and the family are being supported by a specialist family liaison officer.