A group of police officers who saved the life of a heavily-pregnant woman after she was stabbed in the neck by her violent partner have won bravery awards.
Worried neighbours called 999 after hearing a woman screaming inside a flat in Delgatie Court, Glenrothes, on February 23.
Constables Paul Stather, Sarah Hay, Ashliegh Archer and Andrew Gillies quickly arrived at the scene and forced entry to the property.
Video of the officers reliving the experience is above this article.
Inside they found beggar Stephen Ramsay, who was well known for violence and being hostile towards police, straddling his partner Lisa Donaldson after stabbing her multiple times.
Despite not knowing if he was still armed, Ramsay was removed from the flat while the remaining officers battled to save the woman and her unborn twins.
Tragically, the babies did not survive but the woman was saved thanks to the brave actions of the officers.
Constable Paul Stather, 32, said: “There were three calls in quick succession and given the previous incidents with that male, I think we all knew there was something seriously wrong.
“I could see the male, who was known to us, straddling his partner who was heavily pregnant. She had been assaulted so badly she was almost unrecognisable.
“She was barely conscious and the carpet was saturated in her blood. Her lips then started to go blue.”
Constable Sarah Hay, 33, said: “I shouted on control for an ambulance. I remember saying ‘this female is dying in front of us, we need an ambulance now’.”
Constable Ashliegh Archer, 36, continued: “She was put on the stretcher and it was as quick as everyone could move to get her in the back of the ambulance.
“Constable Stather took the wheel of the ambulance, myself and Constable Hay got into the back while Constable Gillies got in the van and led the way.
Constable Andrew Gillies, 51, added: “You go into these situations and it’s almost like you’re on autopilot. We do what we have to do and think about the consequences afterwards.”
Glasgow High Court heard Ms Donaldson twice went into cardiac arrest as she was rushed to the Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy.
Medics said the unborn, 32-week-old twins died as they were deprived of sufficient blood supply.
Ramsay, who had spent the day begging on Edinburgh’s Princes Street, drinking cider and taking Valium and Xanax tablets, admitted to police he had “slit her throat” and when told the babies had died said: “I’ve murdered my kids.”
The 36-year-old admitted attempted murder and will be sentenced in December.
