Award for a true hero

Flight Lieutenant John Sutcliffe, from the Ansdell-based 2486 (Lytham St Annes) Squadron, received the Lord Lieutenant’s Commendation in recognition of his selfless actions.

John, who joined the squadron as an adult instructor in 2012, put his own safety to one side to assist the woman – using his own uniform to stem her bleeding, he gave the casualty a fighting chance of survival.

The ambulance crew who attended commented that the pressure being applied to the wound was as good as they could have achieved, and continued to use his jacket to control the bleeding.

John said: “I am grateful and honoured to receive such an award as special as this.

“I would urge any person of any age to look into taking first aid training – even basic first aid makes a huge difference to someone’s life or wellbeing.

“Without the training I had been provided by the Air Cadet organisation I could not have made the effort I did with this unfortunate incident.”

The Commendation was presented by Colonel The Lord Shuttleworth KCVO, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, during the awards ceremony held at Stonyhurst College, in the Ribble Valley.

Colonel Mark Underhill, chief executive of the North West of England and the Isle of Man Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (NW RFCA) which runs the awards, said: “The Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards give us an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the dedication and professionalism of the adults and young people who contribute so much to our Reserve Forces and Cadet Forces.

“Flt Lt Sutcliffe’s actions were in the best tradition of the Royal Air Force and the Armed Services, in putting the needs of others ahead of your own.”