A Wellington police officer has been recognised for his life-saving work in 2018.
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Constable Matthew Lang received a certificate of merit in recognition for his professionalism rendering first aid to a man who had sustained a life-threatening wound to his arm in Wellington on December 6 in 2018.
The constable, along with senior constable Paige Lawry attended a Thornton Street address in Wellington when they were confronted with a 22-year-old man laying on the ground suffering severe injuries to his right arm and significant blood loss.
"When we pulled up and got out of the car, you could see right away his right arm was just all shredded and torn apart," Constable Lang said.
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Assessing the man's injuries, which included an arterial bleed, the officers applied bandage pressure before using a tourniquet to stem the flow of blood.
Ambulance paramedics said if it wasn't for the actions of the officers, the man could have died from catastrophic blood loss.
"When we come across it we had to think on your feet really quickly, so it puts a lot of pressure on you," Constable Lang said.
"But to be able to get that result, and be able to do just enough for him to stay alive, it was confronting, but really rewarding at the same time."
Upon receiving the award Constable Lang said he was humbled to be recognised.
"The police force is a very thankless job," he said.
"You're always called out to sort out people's problems at the time, it's band aid fixes here and there.
"Half the time you're going out to a job and you're locking someone up and the person who called you is angry at you because you're locking them up.
"So when you do things that that community recognise you for, it's a very proud moment because you don't get it very often."
Born and raised in Wellington, Constable Lang joined the police force in 2014. He trained for seven months at the NSW Police Force Academy at Goulburn, before he was stationed in Blacktown.
After three years, constable Lang returned to Wellington.
"It's been an eye-opener that's for sure," he said.
"I did my time in Blacktown and it's a very big station, but I still had family that live out in Wellington.
"I knew there was a bit of a drug problem out here and that's my main source of work at the moment, and what I want to get into - drug investigations that was always my ambition."
Constable Lang said while it's often a confronting career, the police force was also a very rewarding one.
"It's a very rewarding career, and you can help a lot of people," he said.
"You've got to have a strong mind when you come and join the police force, because it's going to get hard and dirty a lot of the times.
"But as long as you can always sit back and remember why you joined the cops in he first place, if it's because you want to help people or for whatever reason, then always remember that and you'll do well."