The mother of a young air cadet said she was "bursting with pride" after her son was among three Newtown Air Cadets honoured for their "life-saving" actions.

Cadet Sergeant Barnaby Jones-Evans and cadets Henry Barnes and Josh Vaughan received a Commandant’s Commendation after their quick thinking saved lives on two separate occasions.

On Friday, June 22 Jones-Evans, aged 15, witnessed a young adult fall onto barbed wire causing severe bleeding to their midriff. With no first aid kit, he improvised to stem the bleeding and summoned help. No sooner had he dealt with this incident than a second, more serious incident occurred. A young person had fallen and sustained a serious head injury. After checking that the emergency services were on their way, he cleared the casualty’s airway and put them in the recovery position, before the casualty was flown to the Head Injuries Unit at Stoke Hospital for treatment. The paramedics at the scene congratulated Barnaby for his actions that, in their words, had "saved someone’s life."

Weeks later twelve year-old Barnes called the emergency services while fellow cadet, Vaughan, aged 13, administered urgent first aid, after a friend had fallen down a bank while on a bike ride, sustaining a head injury.

Fire crews and paramedics who attended praised the two cadets for the way they handled the situation and used their First Aid skills to save their friend’s life.

All three cadets were recommended for a Special Commendation certificate from the Commandant of the RAF Air Cadets, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, the highest recognition for such action.

Newtown Air Cadets’ Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Steve Hopper said: "These Commandant’s Commendations are the highest recognition a cadet can achieve and are a shining example of how young people on this Squadron and in this local community deserve our fullest praise and recognition. For three cadets to receive them, in the space of a week, is outstanding. I am humbled by their actions and trust they will continue to set such high standards for other cadets to emulate in the future."

The Mayor of Newtown, Councillor Sue Newham said: "I was so impressed by the calmness and maturity of these young cadets in dealing with situations that would have made many adults panic. It was an honour to be asked to present the commendation certificates to them."

Cadet Barnes’s mother, Nicola, added, "We were so proud that we nearly burst. Sometimes something happens that makes all the tribulations of life seem very worthwhile. Both Henry and his sister have gained so much confidence since being part of the Air Cadets. In fact, the squadron feels like a big family and one which I know my children love being part of."