James Gets Bravery Award

Community Safety’s James Taylor is set to receive a bravery award after he and his wife helped save the life of a 15-year-old boy who had suffered horrific head injuries in a cycling accident last August.

James has been awarded the Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation for his actions in fighting to save the life of Jack Pollock.

James, who is based in Braintree, and his wife Jo, a firefighter with Harlow Blue Watch, were on a family holiday in Cumbria when they found the severely injured boy in the road. James and Jo sprang into action working to stabilise the boy and stop his bleeding as they waited 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.

“We were driving along the Kirkstone Pass when we saw something lying in the road. I stopped the car and we got out to see what was happening.

“A boy had fallen off his bike and badly injured his head. We immediately got to work stabilising him and trying to stop the bleeding. Another man, Chris Tomlinson, was there delivering beer so he had a supply of bar towels fresh from the cleaners which we used as makeshift bandages.

“It was so remote that it took 40 minutes for an ambulance to reach us and we spent all that time working to try and keep Jack alive - I thought he died several times.

“Since the accident, I have heard that Jack is doing well. He is still undergoing therapy but he is going to school some days and seems like he is on the road to recovery.”

James and Chris will both receive the Commendation.

The Royal Humane Society’s Secretary, Dick Wilkinson, said: “These two men were faced with an horrific scene as this young man suffered a smashed skull. The skin from his forehead was detached and covering his face and his brain was exposed.

“Jack had fallen off his bicycle at speed without a helmet and his head hit the stone wall bordering the road several times.

“Mr Taylor and Mr Tomlinson did all they could to keep him warm, to keep his airway open and to stem his bleeding until paramedics arrived by air to fly Jack to hospital.

“There is little doubt though that Mr Taylor and Mr Tomlinson made the difference between life and death in their swift first aid.

“Both men were quite frankly the right people in the right place at the right time and they both richly deserve the awards they are to receive.”