Mr Haydn Duncalf honoured with Commendation from the Humane Society

Junior School teacher; Mr Haydn Duncalf has recently been honoured with a Commendation from the Humane Society  for saving a 16-year-old girl after she became ill while trekking in South Africa.

Mr Duncalf was trekking within a three man team, when the girl suffered a severe asthma attack on a mountain in Southern Drakensberg.

The incident unfolded at 2,200ft just after the decision was taken to abandon the trek due to dangerous conditions caused by 80mph winds. It took the three-man team, over five hours to carry her to safety.

The girl had attempted to use her inhaler without success and, due to her breathing difficulties, she started to drift in and out of consciousness.

They were nominated by the Army Cadet Force which provides military-themed activities for children and young people from around the UK.

“It must have been an incredibly gruelling, harrowing and seemingly never-ending trip carrying her down the mountain. The three of them did an absolutely superb job with the result that she survived the ordeal and was, amazingly, released from hospital the next day. They richly deserve the awards they receive” said Andrew Chapman, secretary of the Royal Humane Society.