New Gallantry Awards Announced
5th October 2019
All members of the League will no doubt be pleased to see new recipients of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal and the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery announced in the civilian gallantry list. These awards which are for courageous action in the most difficult situations, recognise the selfless acts by individuals in rescuing others in grave danger. As members of the League we are proud of them all and hope to welcome them into the League in due course. The full citations can be found in the London Gazette Edition 62781, dated 28 September 2019
Awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal:
Mr Andrew Foster QGM (Posthumous) – On 27 September 2017 Andrew Foster and his wife Lucy were on a camping trip in Yosemite National Park in California when rocks, reportedly the size of cars, started to fall around them. Lucy was walking 50m behind Andrew when they heard the rocks begin to fall above them. Mr Foster was already well clear of the danger site when the rockfall began but Mrs Foster was not, and he shouted for her to run. She lost her footing on the uneven terrain, causing her to fall to the ground directly under the rock fall. Mr Foster ran back to his wife and lay on top of her to protect her from falling rocks. He suffered fatal injuries whilst Lucy, although suffering life-threatening injuries at the time, was rescued from the mountainside and made a full recovery.
Mr Luke Ridley QGM – On Friday 23 November 2018, at 06:49 hours, nominee Luke Ridley contacted police via a 999 call. He had been driving on the A303, close to Countess Services in Amesbury, Wiltshire when he witnessed a blue Nissan Micra vehicle leave the carriageway and come to rest on its side, partially suspended from an earth bank and at a precarious angle. The vehicle started to smoke and then flames ignited from within the bonnet area. Mr Ridley stopped and ran to assist. There was a single female driver, aged in her 60’s in the vehicle, who was still in the driver’s seat and was disoriented and unable to free herself from her seat belt. Mr Ridley entered the vehicle via the rear hatch and cut through the seatbelt using a tool from his own vehicle. He then dragged the occupant through the rear hatch to safety, whilst the fire was taking hold. The occupant, although disoriented and shaken, and having inhaled some smoke, was uninjured. The police received several 999 calls from the public to alert them that the vehicle was on fire although no other drivers had stopped. The attending officers have noted that within two minutes of their attendance, the vehicle had become completely engulfed in flames with loud explosions being heard. The attending officers were in no doubt that had Mr Ridley not acted a loss of life would have occurred.
Awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery:
Kieran Dobey for preventing an armed intruder attack his mother.
Sergeant Matthew Daley and Temporary Sergeant Jodi Leonardi of Nottinghamshire Police for disarming a man holding a handgun during a rescue of elderly residents from a house fire.
PC Mark Fletcher of Lancashire Police for his actions in successfully rescuing 2 people from a house fire.
Leanne Collopy (Posthumous) for her actions in protecting her infant child during a sustained attack and house fire.
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