PCSO Sophie Lusher
It was 12:45 pm on a sunny Tuesday, 27 June 2023, when PCSO Sophie Lusher was cruising along Pembury Road in her police vehicle. She noticed a woman in another car who had pulled over and was waving her arms wildly.
Gasping for air
PCSO Lusher sensed something was wrong and rushed to the scene. She saw the woman was gasping for air, choking on a piece of food. She remembered the first aid skills she had learned in her training and sprang into action. She cleared the blockage and pushed the food out of her throat. She then drove the woman to a nearby hospital.
Acted on my gut feeling
PCSO Lusher, a loyal servant of Tunbridge Wells Police Station for 16 years, said: ‘I acted on my gut feeling and my training. I knew I had to help this lady, who was in a lot of pain. I was worried about the force I had to use to clear her airway, but thankfully she’s fine now. It was wonderful to see her again at her home.’
Chief Superintendent Neil Loudon, the boss of West Kent police, applauded PCSO Lusher for her brave deed. He said: ‘PCSO Lusher showed incredible skill and compassion in this situation. She may think it’s just ‘part of the job’ but she really made a difference. Our officers and staff do outstanding work every day, often unnoticed by the public, and this is just one example of that. We are all very proud of PCSO Lusher; she is a star of Kent Police and the community.’