Two officers who rescued a man trapped in mud off the Canvey coast have been nominated for bravery awards.

Sergeant Mike Latham and PC Tom Clinton were shortlisted for the Police Federation of England and Wales Bravery Award.

They will both attend the 23rd annual bravery awards ceremony in London on Thursday, July 12.

At around 3.50pm on Saturday, July 11, 2015, police received reports that a man had jumped from a sea wall, had climbed down a steep embankment and waded out across deep mud into the sea off Thorney Bay Road.

The man was about 75 metres from the shore.

Sgt Latham and PC Clinton quickly realised there was only half an hour to rescue him due to the rising tide.

They joined the hovercraft crew to help the man, but as they were having difficulty in pulling him to safety, they transferred to an RNLI rib and successfully pulled him aboard.

The man, who is from Canvey, was taken to hospital with cuts to a hand and leg, and suffering the early stages of hypothermia.

Without the officers putting themselves at risk to help the man, he was unlikely to have survived.

Chief Insp Glen Westley, district commander for Castle Point and Rochford, said: “It’s always good to see the bravery of our officers being recognised in this way.

“Sergeant Mike Latham and PC Tom Clinton put the safety of this vulnerable person ahead of their own, and in doing so upheld the proud traditions of Essex Police.”