Police officer noticed something terrifying in McDonald’s restroom — her quick response saved everyone’s life
A West Yorkshire Police officer, Rhona Adams, is being hailed a hero for her swift and thoughtful intervention at a McDonald’s outlet to save the crowd present there, reported BBC News. The woman was alerted about a missing person and eventually learned that she was at a McDonald’s in Bradford. When she entered the outlet’s restroom and found the woman, she spotted something frightening and dangerous. With seconds to respond, Adams had a smart and brave reaction that helped save not only the missing woman’s life but also that of all those present at the outlet.
The West Yorkshire Police Federation shared a post commending the officer’s response to the call of duty. It was mentioned that Adams has responded to a “high-risk” missing report. “The report that PC Adams, from West Yorkshire Police, was called to was chilling — a missing person who had threatened to take her life by setting herself on fire.” When the officer arrived at the outlet, she realized that the woman was not just putting herself at risk but several others who were present at the time, including children. Despite being alone to tackle the situation, the officer responded by prioritizing the safety of the people.
“With the assistance of the restaurant’s staff, PC Adams made her way to the disabled toilets, where it was believed the missing person was located,” the post explained. Unfortunately, she was terrified to see that the woman had already lit herself on fire. There was no time to think and Adams quickly intervened. “She reached the woman and despite the raging fire, began desperately trying to smother the flames with her bare hands,” the department mentioned. It was this brave and astute act that helped save the woman’s life and prevent further damage. She immediately used the fire extinguisher and completely doused the flames.
The officer performed every part of her duty well, from responding promptly to intervening at her own expense and immediately calling for medical assistance for the woman. The missing woman reportedly suffered first and second-degree burns and was rescued before it became fatal. According to Stanford Medicine, first and second-degree burns are milder and cause lesser damage and pain as compared to third-degree burns, which can be dangerous. Still, Adams' duty was not done. “She offered constant reassurance to the injured woman, giving her the comfort and care she needed in those terrifying moments,” the post revealed.
It also mentioned that the incident, having occurred in a public place, “was a real risk.” However, the officer exercised professionalism and sharp skills to avoid a disaster. For her excellent work, Craig Nicholls, Chair of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, shared, “I am humbled to share that PC Rhona Adams has been nominated for the 2025 National Police Bravery Awards.” “Rhona placed herself between danger and vulnerability, shielding the woman with her own hands, calmly guiding staff, summoning medical help and speaking gently to reassure her throughout,” Nicholls said.
Recalling the incident in a post, Adams wrote, “I simply did my job and what I thought any decent human being would have done. Despite the horrific scene I encountered, I could not have overcome the days that followed without my WYP family, my colleagues, my teammates and my family.” On June 14, she shared a post expressing gratitude for receiving the award. "Thank you to everyone, friends and strangers, for the kind words and words of encouragement regarding my bravery award. It truly means a lot," she wrote.