At night during severe flooding officers attended reports of the collapse of Northside Bridge, Workington and of a vehicle having gone into the river; whilst PC Barker was checking the damaged bridge and searching for casualties the area where he was standing collapsed and he was swept away and killed.

Posthumously awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

Roll of Honour Citation

During severe flooding he was on a damaged bridge which collapsed and he was swept away.