Every day, they are prepared to risk their own lives to save others. They don't
think twice about going beyond the call of duty to help complete strangers in need.
There's no doubt that the members of our emergency services are some of the greatest
heroes in our country today. And they are too often the least rewarded.
That's why
the GMTV Emergency Services Award at Pride of Britain is so special.
It's a chance
to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary people we rely on in times of crisis
- whether they be in the police, fire, ambulance, air, sea or mountain rescue services.
We ensure that we tell as many of their remarkable stories as possible by featuring
all our four finalists for the category every day for a week on GMTV, in the Daily
Mirror and other press, two weeks before the Pride of Britain Awards take place.
The winner is selected by the public in a phone vote at the end of the week.
PC
Mark Plant, of West Midlands police, won the award at Pride of Britain 2006 for
an act of truly breath-taking courage.
After chasing two robbers to their getaway
car, he then leapt on the bonnet and clung on for about a mile as they weaved around
oncoming cars at speeds of up to 50mph.
Determined not to let them get away, he
smashed the windscreen with his knee. And, when the car slowed down, and the driver
jumped out, Mark chased him and finally arrested him!
He says, modestly: "I was
just determined to stop them and catch them - that's why I joined the police. It's
one of those things where you just act on instinct."
Among the finalists were fire-fighters
Steve Binns and Paul Myers, of County Durham, who waded out of their depth in a
frozen lake to save a drowning woman, trapped under the ice.
Air crew paramedic
Kevin Hodgson rescued a man from drowning in his car during a brave airlift - despite
not having the right safety equipment on board. And WPC Sarah Hobson, of Wolverhampton,
chased, caught and arrested two balaclava-clad robbers, one of whom had served time
for attempted murder.
GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips says: "We are proud at GMTV
to support this award, and to devote a whole week on the show to the finalists.
The members of the emergency services are remarkably selfless people who we all
depend on when there is a crisis to do the right thing.
"This is a great way to
remind everyone what a debt we owe them. I urge people who have their own personal
reason to be grateful to members of the emergency services, or have been impressed
with what they've done, to nominate them for this very special award."
You can nominate
a member of the emergency services for this award on this website by clicking Nominate
Now on the left. Please tell us, in as much detail as possible, why you feel they
deserve to win the GMTV Emergency Services Award at Pride of Britain.