A police sergeant has been nominated for a national bravery award for his swift actions in preventing a man from setting himself on fire at a petrol station. Sgt Charlie Thompson tackled the man, who had doused himself in fuel and was holding a lighter, at a Tesco petrol station in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, last October.
The man was standing inches away from the fuel pumps, threatening a potentially catastrophic explosion, and had given emergency services a 15-minute ultimatum. Bodycam footage captured the tense encounter, showing officers arriving to find the man holding the lighter and demanding to speak with local officials.
Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, with Sgt Thompson pleading with the man to move away from the pumps and discuss his concerns. As the man poured fuel over himself, Sgt Thompson rushed forward, tackling him to the ground to prevent him from igniting himself. Other officers then assisted, and a firefighter was on hand to hose the man down with foam, eliminating the risk of fire.
Acting Chief Constable David Gardner praised Sgt Thompson's "incredible fortitude, empathy, and quick-thinking," stating that disaster was averted thanks to his actions and those of the other officers. Sgt Thompson, who was nominated for the Police Federation National Police Bravery Awards 2026, credited his team's coordination and teamwork for the successful outcome.
"I couldn't have done it without the team behind me - we co-ordinated, we worked together, and it was together that we stopped what could have been a terrible loss of life," Sgt Thompson said. He also expressed hope that the man involved is now receiving the support he needs.
