We have reached the penultimate day in our countdown to the Examiner Community Awards and today we focus on the Courage Award.
The awards are split into 14 categories and we have been profiling those shortlisted for tomorrow’s glittering evening at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The winners will be revealed on the night, which is hosted by ITN newsreader Nina Hossain.
Tomorrow: The shortlist for the best Community Event.
THE Courage Award is sponsored by Holmfirth-based business advisors and accountants V&A Bell Brown LLP.
"They have all gone beyond the normal expectations of everyday life and have shown what can be achieved with true bravery and determination.
"Although times may seem tough for all of us at the moment, the stories of these brave individuals certainly help us to get life in perspective, but more than that they show us how we can approach the challenges of the commercial world with integrity, strength and the courage that is needed to succeed.
"There can only be one winner on the night, but we salute all the nominees for their acts of courage beyond what could reasonably be expected from them."
WHEN David Joy saw a woman being attacked on a rural Huddersfield road he immediately knew he had to help.
The 59-year-old joiner stopped his van on the road near Farnley Tyas one day in March – and police say that what happened next prevented an even more serious crime from happening.
A couple had been driving along the road when the man stopped the car and then viciously attacked her, throwing her to the ground and kicking her repeatedly about the head and face.
When David stopped, the terrified victim immediately ran to him and got in his van.
David said: “I parked my van just beyond his car and the victim managed to get up, get away and ran to my van. She had suffered head and facial injuries.”
The man was later arrested and the case is ongoing.
After driving her to a safe place David contacted police and an ambulance and stayed with the victim until police arrived before then spending a considerable amount of time at the police station providing a statement detailing what he had seen.
Pc Susan Knowles, from Huddersfield police, said the attacker is more than 6ft tall and stocky.
“He was extremely angry and aggressive,” she said. “Mr Joy said that he thought the complainant might be killed and that he himself might be attacked. He also said other people were driving past and not stopping but felt he could not leave despite being “absolutely terrified” himself.
“Having spoken with Mr Joy at length and having read the complainant’s statement I, and the other officers who attended, felt that Mr Joy’s actions prevented a much more serious offence from taking place.
“He put himself at risk to assist a stranger and although he was scared of being assaulted himself he did as much as he could to help the complainant.”
David lives in Gomersal with wife Elizabeth.
LITTLE Theo Carnie is a pint-sized superhero and an inspiration to all those who know him.
The four-year-old from Outlane has had health issues since birth and underwent his first operation at just 10 months old.
But just like the superhero characters Theo so loves, he looks life straight in the eye and bravely faces whatever it throws at him.
Following surgery, Theo’s condition worsened. Eventually he had specialist tests at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and last September was diagnosed with a painful and extremely rare bowel condition.
Theo suffers from Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction Eosinophilic gut disease and hypermobility (excessive joint movement)
His ailments mean, in effect, that Theo is allergic to food. He receives his nutrition intravenously through tubes leading to a backpack which feeds him 22 hours a day.
Throughout his short life Theo has had to go through various operations, procedures, hospital stays and appointments. Last year he spent a total of 20 weeks in hospital, but his dedicated parents made sure he was never alone.
Mum Verity, a former nurse, spent the 20 weeks on a camp bed at his side and dad Nathan, a GP, regularly visited him in London.
When he’s not in hospital, Theo is enjoying life just like other boys of his age. He loves attending St John’s Playgroup at Golcar where he helps to show other children that it’s okay to be different.
And, recently, Theo and his family promoted the Toy Appeal for Calderdale Royal Hospital, Halifax, where he also receives treatment.
Sadly, there is no cure for Theo’s condition and the family are currently preparing themselves for another extended stay at Great Ormond Street.
Verity said: “Theo is quite an amazing little boy – he is very resilient. He has a lovely nature and takes everything in his stride. He makes us better people for knowing him.
“We have no idea what life holds for Theo but despite all of his problems he has a massive zest for life and proves to be an inspiration to all those around him due to his bravery and courage. He’s our real-life superhero.”
HUDDERSFIELD University makes sure its security and caretaking staff are all trained in first aid.
After many years of employment, the worst that three employees had had to deal with were minor cuts and the occasional person fainting.
That was until last October when the three men were called into action and their training instinctively kicked in. The result was that they save a man’s life.
Security supervisor James Duckett, campus support supervisor Allan Butters and campus support officer Bill Robinson were all on duty when a shout came over the radio that there was a serious incident in the Creative Arts Building.
A male student had fallen from a second floor glazed balcony in the atrium on to the cafe floor below – a drop of over 30ft.
“It was pandemonium,” said James, who was first on the scene.
They arrived to find shocked and distressed students and a man barely alive.
Although they had never encountered anything like this before, their first aid training instinctively kicked in and the three men set to work trying to keep the young man alive.
Allan took off his shirt to support the man’s head and made sure his airways were clear. James supported his back, ensuring he was not moved and Bill monitored the man’s vital signs, talking to him constantly.
Twice his pulse stopped and they thought they’d lost him but they kept him alive for four minutes until the first emergency responder arrived. Even then they remained in their positions until the ambulance took him to hospital.
Bill said: “Our training just kicked in and it wasn’t until afterwards that we were affected. I started shaking and could hardly breathe.”
The police said the actions of the three men had undoubtedly saved the student’s life.
Bill said: “I was just doing my job and I’m so glad that he has battled through and survived.”
The men added that they were honoured to be shortlisted for a community award, but the best prize for them was knowing that the young man will be returning to Huddersfield University in September to continue his studies.
