Young lifesavers in with chance of national award

Cody Hartley, 11, has been nominated for a prize in the Everyday Heroes Awards run by St John Ambulance.

Cody, from Thorpe, near Wakefield, has raised nearly £2,000 to have lifesaving defibrillators installed in her schools and she recently had the machine installed at her karate club.

She is leading the charge to have defibrillators installed in schools and public places across the country.

She first got the idea after feeling inspired by the story of a 12-year-old boy who died from an undetected heart condition.

Her mother Sheree said: “It’s absolutely fantastic.

“Cody has done all this by herself, from getting up at 4am for car boot sales to supermarket bag-packing in the holidays. She’s started fund-raising for defibrillator number four already.”

Kayne Holden, nine, is also in the running for the Young Hero of the Year award for saving his mother Cherie Briggs’s life after she choked on a pea.

Kayne, from Bingley, gave her back blows and an abdominal thrust to clear her airways after learning first aid just days before.

His mother, 38, said: “They’re all heroes but obviously Kayne is my hero.

“I’m so proud because he listened, watched, learned and put it into action.

“He didn’t panic, he just got on with it.”

Grimsby fireman and ambulance first responder volunteer Harry Hall and leisure operator Sheffield International Venues are also on the shortlist of nominees for awards at a ceremony in London next month.

TV presenter Tess Daly will host the glittering ceremony.

The awards celebrate ordinary people who have used first aid to save a life and the individuals or businesses that have championed the cause.

Sue Killen, chief executive of St John Ambulance, said: “This year’s finalists have some truly remarkable stories to tell.

“It’s wonderful to be able to recognise the Everyday Heroes who are saving lives and encouraging others to do the same, and I 
hope they inspire others to learn first aid so they, too, can be the 
difference between life and death.”