Boy, 12, fought off dog
HEROIC schoolboy Oliver Wiper has become one of the youngest ever people to receive an award for outstanding bravery.
Oliver, 12, of East Ardsley, near Dewsbury, acted as a human shield to save a younger child who was being attacked by a vicious dog in Thornhill.
He was presented with a Royal Humane Society bronze medal and is the youngest child to win the accolade in almost 10 years.
The terrifying incident unfolded on Friday, July 4, last year, when Oliver saw a labrador about to bite an eight-year-old boy on the head in Overthorpe Avenue.
He protected the youngster, but was savaged himself. The dog attacked two more people, all of whom needed hospital treatment. The animal was later put down.
Lady Louisa Cosgrave, a society committee member, joined West Yorkshire Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn, to present the award at the force's training school at Bishopgarth in Wakefield.
Speaking after the presentation, modest Oliver said: "I wasn't expecting all this fuss about what I did, but it was a very nice night."
Oliver's father, Edward, accompanied him to the ceremony.
He said: "I am very proud of Oliver and what he did last summer."
Mr Wiper added: "He was hurt in the attack, but he didn't think about that. Oliver is very modest about it all and doesn't think of himself as a hero."
Maj-Gen Christopher Tyler, secretary of the society, said: "It is very rare for someone so young to achieve such a level of bravery.
"The Royal Humane Society's last recorded case was in July, 1995, when two girls aged 14 and 12 swam 500 yards out to sea to rescue a young woman.
"Oliver's self-sacrifice thoroughly deserves this award."
