It was the early hours of the morning when during a busy night shift a call came over Katy Evans' police radio saying a woman was in distress in the sea.
Together with colleague PC Ian Chattun, they immediately went to Aberystwyth's North Beach. The woman, who had a recent history of self harm, had already been in the water but had been pulled out and was sitting on the sea's edge. It was a stormy night and it was pitch black and the sea was very rough.
As they approached, it was clear she was in considerable distress and Sergeant Evans, now DS Evans, said it was clear it was a dangerous situation.
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"She was half in the water at that point and was very upset, was crying, screaming, and the people with her were frantically sort of trying to stop her from from going further in the water," said Sgt Evans.
"It became clear from from the very beginning that she was so distraught and she'd been drinking as well so there wasn't much reasoning with her, to be honest and as we were trying to engage with her, I remember thinking to myself, 'This is really dangerous' and she could be swept further out to sea at any point because the waves were just crashing towards us. So, we were just trying to get her to come a little bit more to the beach and sit down with us."
The officers tried to explain she wasn't in any trouble and they just wanted to talk to her.
Sgt Evans recalled: "There was an imminent danger because of the weather and how fast the waves were coming in that she was just going to be swept away whether it was intentional or not."
"She sort of just disappeared right in front of my eyes as I'm being completely honest, because of the the high tide and the waves there wasn't really much time to think. I just remember going in with with Ian and teh member of the public without really thinking twice. It became evident really quickly that we were in trouble from the very, very beginning because there was no time because it happened so quickly. there was no time for us to take any of our uniform off."
And with their utility belts and stab vests on both officers were soon struggling.
Sgt Evans said: "The waves were coming over us and we were completely immersed in water and it was very, very difficult to swim. I can swim but I'm not an exceptional swimmer."
Between the weight of the equipment, the force of the waves and being in complete darkness, Sgt Evans was unable to get her feet to the ground. Quickly, she became panicked.
She added: "As I entered the water, I pressed my emergency button on my video and that was to alert others that we were in trouble and I was trying to communicate what was going on but because I was submerged in wate nobody could hear me, they just heard the sound of the water I think.
"I do remember thinking to myself 'I'm never going to see my little boy again'."
The group had all become separated but she could see the flashlight from her colleagues' body worn camera every now and then but the woman was in the distance and they continued to try get to her.
Two colleagues heard the distress alert and despite it causing them problems, their uniform kept catching the light which meant they could see her in the dark.
Somehow, they had managed to get the woman from danger and all three were back towards the shore. The woman was still distressed and in shock at the situation so was battling the officers.
Sgt Evans said: "I think that's what made it 100 times worse because we were battling the elements of the sea, the weight of our uniform, but also against somebody who didn't actually want our help.
"She was happy to go with the tide and was trying to get away from us so it was all those elements and you know all we wanted to do was to make sure that she was safe.
"Somehow we battled against the current, and the other two officers then helped to drag us out to the water but she was still in distress, was angry with us and we were in shock I think as well, as well as physically and mentally exhausted and cold.
"Mainly I think we were just very much thankful that we were all okay. I can only speak for me but it didn't actually hit me until hours later."
Paramedics took over care of the woman, and while Sgt Evans remembers going back to the station and talking to colleagues about it, it wasn't until she got home it really hit her.
"I completely broke down and it was that feeling that I was never going to see my little boy again and that hit me and just being thankful that everybody was okay," she added.
"We try and prepare ourselves but you can't prepare yourself for the unknown. I've never been in this position before I've gone into the sea and I didn't think I ever would if I was being completely honest but it was a split second decision that I made on that night, because I thought there was a chance of saving somebody's life.
"Ian and I have spoken about it since and we've become really good friends as a result of it so that helps".
The pair have since been nomimated for this year's St David's Awards - which recognises the achievements of people in Wales from all walks of life.
This year’s award categories are: Bravery, Business, Community Spirit, Critical Worker, Culture, Environment Champion, Innovation, Science and Technology, Sport, Young Person and the First Minister’s Special Award. .
Sgt Evans and PC Chattun have been nominated in the Bravery catagory.
She said: "The recognition is bit of a shock. On one hand I do feel like we were just doing our job but on the other hand, it's so humbling and such an honour to be told that you did go over and above and it's nice to know that people you know, whether it's friends or families are proud of you and more than that we saved somebody's life."
The woman did contact her through social media afterwards to say how thankful she was and how she has gone on to university.
She added: "That just made it all worth it for me. So you know that that, that, to me is the most important thing. That she's healthy and succeeding in life and we made a difference."
The winners of the St David's Awards will be announced on April 7.
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