Revesby LAC police officers honoured for life saving actions
TWO police officers from Wattle Grove will be recognised for their heroic actions at a Revesby factory fire in 2016.
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THEY’VE confronted harrowing scenes many times throughout their careers, but two southwest Sydney police officers count the aftermath of a Revesby factory fire as one of the most horrific jobs they’ve faced.
Senior Sergeant David Chandler and Senior Constable Islam Omar, of Revesby Local Area Command, can recall vividly the chaotic scenes after a gas bottle exploded at the Fitzpatrick St, Revesby site in May 2016.
Two male factory workers suffered third degree burns to 60 per cent of their bodies.
Sen Sgt Chandler and Sen Con Omar were among the first at the scene, administering first aid to the men and co-ordinating traffic to get them to hospital during peak hour.
For their efforts, the Wattle Grove residents will receive a Royal Life Saving Society Australia commendation at Government House on July 31.
Sen Con Omar remembers seeing the two men emerge from the factory. The 38-year-old had been patrolling in Milperra when he saw plumes of smoke coming from the Revesby industrial complex just before 4pm.
“The job hadn’t been broadcasted yet, so I just drove down and once I’d entered the street I saw the factory was well alight,” he said.
“I saw two burns victims come out … the explosion pretty much tore off most of their clothes.”
After calling for assistance from emergency services and paramedics, Sen Con Omar urged the people around him to bring water so he could administer first aid to the men.
“Everyone was bringing down 600ml bottles of water … I started to yell out to people to try to find a factory that had showers because the bottles of water simply weren’t cutting it,” he said.
As he guided the two men to a factory opposite the blaze, it was clear that “they were well and truly in shock”.
“It wasn’t until I put them under the showers that I started to get a reaction from them.
“The sounds of a screaming man — it was pretty bad.”
Medical experts later told Sen Con Omar his swift actions saved the two men.
As paramedics and specialist doctors arrived to treat the burns victims in a makeshift triage area, police were organising an escort to Royal North Shore Hospital — a challenge as peak-hour traffic descended on southwest Sydney.
Sen Sgt Chandler was at the “business end” co-ordinating traffic to get the men to hospital.
“We had the M5 shut down. I had the Traffic Management Centre on the phone as well while I’m doing this to give me … a green light corridor, so we had very green light down Milperra Rd,” he said.
Having notched up 33 years in the NSW Police Force, he’s seen a lot, but jobs like this one remain “in the back of your mind always”.
Both officers praised the work of emergency services personnel on the day.
It will be the second Royal Life Saving Society Australia commendation for Sen Con Omar, who was recognised for his actions in 2005 after rescuing an unconscious man from a car in Padstow.