National award for quick-thinking cop who helped save baby's life

PC Jack Clayton was working as a response officer in Mexborough in December 2023 when he received an urgent call asking for officers to attend a baby in cardiac arrest.

Realising he was within a couple of streets of the address, PC Clayton was the first person on the scene from the emergency services.

As the baby's father performed vital CPR, PC Clayton attended and cleared space to work before asking to take over from the dad and administer further life-saving CPR.

"It was all about saving this baby's life," PC Clayton said.

"I knew the dad was going to need a break so I asked if he wanted me to take over and that is when I started conducting CPR.

"The call handler on the phone was calling out the repetitions for chest compressions and breathing and I had to be very careful as the baby had been born premature so in reality, he was only three days old instead of three months old.

"Pure professionalism just took over and it was time for me to do my job and try and keep this baby alive."

The baby was taken to hospital and went on to survive.

As recognition of his efforts, PC Clayton, who now works as a neighbourhood policing officer for Doncaster East NPT in Thorne, will receive a Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificate.

PC Clayton said: "It's a really nice gesture.

“It's great to see a positive reaction to police-related work and it's nice to be recognised as a representative of the police.

"The primary function for us as police is to help people and it's nice to see that recognised.

"I simply did my job and I just did what I feel anyone in my position would have done."

RHS secretary Andrew Chapman said: “In what must have been a harrowing scene, PC Clayton immediately began CPR on the baby and undoubtedly played a major role in bringing it back to life. “He richly deserves the award he is to receive.”