October 2009 - BASICS Education trains Military lifesaver

Navy medic Kate Nesbitt, 21,  has earned a Military Cross after a heroic rescue in Afghanistan. 

The brave blonde dashed 70 yards across a war zone to reach fallen Corporal John List, who was choking to death on his own blood. 

An enemy bullet had ricocheted off Cpl List's body armour into his mouth - smashing his jaw and tongue. 

Despite heavy fire from Taliban machine guns, Kate worked for 45 minutes to save his life. 

She stemmed the bleeding and then expertly performed a tricky procedure to open a second airway through the soldier's nose. 

Able Seaman Kate, from Plymouth, is the first Wren to receive the Military Cross.   

Kate was trained by the first Military Prehospital Emergency Care course run jointly by BASICS Education and BASICS Scotland at the Royal Marine base in Arbroath.

She is only the second woman to win the famous medal - after Private Michelle Norris in 2006. 

Kate was on her first tour of duty, attached to the 1st Battalion the Rifles in Nawa, central Helmand province. Last night she recalled the events of that hot afternoon in March.

She said: "Without warning Taliban fighters opened fire, having ambushed us. 

"Within seconds I heard, 'Man down, man down,' on the radio and I knew I was needed. 

"I got the location details and sprinted towards him while under fire. All I was thinking was, 'There's a casualty and I need to be there'. I just thought the quicker I get to him the more chance I have to save his life. It was adrenalin. 

"Whenever I went on patrol I hoped I wouldn't be needed - but when the call came I knew I had to step up to the mark." 

Having crossed open ground to reach the wounded soldier, Kate was met by the unit's Second-In-Command and a Royal Marine who was holding his head. 

"When I first got there I didn't think he was going to make it," Kate said. 

"I treated him for about 45 minutes and he was a mess. He was struggling to breathe and I had to provide him with another airway. 

"The round had gone through his top lip, ruptured his jaw and come out of his neck. He was so lucky it didn't hit an artery. 

(Text thanks to The Sun)