Two police officers have been praised for saving a woman from the Royal Victoria Dock less than a month after a colleague carried out a similar rescue.

Newham borough commander, Chief Superintendent Simon Letchford, said:“The selfless bravery of the officers, combined with their calm actions, prevented what could easily have turned into a tragedy. I am immensely proud of them.”

Police were called at 5.50pm last Friday, October 21 to reports of someone in the water.

Upon arrival, Safer Neighbourhoods officers Pc Russell Bailey and Pc Richard Tromans acted without hesitation when they saw a woman struggling in the icy water and immediately jumped in.

They swam to the 50-year-old woman and managed to keep her above the surface until the London Fire Brigade launched their boat from the London City Airport and pulled them all to safety.

The London Ambulance Service took all three to Newham General Hospital where the woman was admitted for treatment. The officers were later discharged returning to work the next day.

Pc Bailey, 48, said: “When we arrived the woman had already been in the water for some minutes and kept disappearing under the surface of the water. Our priority was to keep her afloat until help arrived.”

On Monday, Septembe 26, Pc Robin Whatling, a response officer based at Stratford police station, acted without hesitation when he rescued a 58-year-old woman from the same dock. Both made a full recovery.