A cadet from Turriff Detachment of 2nd Battalion the Highlanders ACF has been presented with a prestigious British Citizen Youth Award (BCyA).
Katlyn Wilson BCyA
Katlyn Wilson (16), from Macduff, received her medal at the Palace of Westminster in London on 18 October in recognition of the outstanding assistance she gave a distressed and injured woman.
The incident took place in August 2017 when Katlyn was walking her dog and noticed the woman crouching and crying on the opposite side of the road.
Other pedestrians were looking, but no-one approached the woman. Katlyn felt she needed to intervene and crossed the road to see if the woman needed any assistance. The woman started to walk away but Katlyn persisted until the woman explained how her partner had beaten her.
Katlyn sat down calmly and asked if she would like the police to be informed, and the woman said yes.
Dialling 999 Katlyn then discovered that the woman’s partner and his friend had beaten the woman in the face and stomach, left her and returned to stab her in the stomach with a screwdriver.
Giving no thought to her own safety, not knowing if the woman’s attackers might return, Katlyn passed as much information as possible to the police and requested an ambulance. She then administered first aid checking the stab wound and the level of bleeding. At this point the woman started to hyperventilate and Katlyn calmly got her to take deep breaths while continuing to reassure her.
Throughout the incident Katlyn showed courage and calmness under pressure, stepping forward when others wouldn’t and delivered sound first aid and communication with the police, keeping the woman calm.
Katlyn learned her first aid skills as a member of the Army Cadet Force and is proud to help others when they are in need. She was nominated for the award by her Battalion.
The British Citizen Youth Award medal.
Katlyn’s medal – along with 22 others – was presented by Ashley Banjo, creative director of dance group Diversity.
He said of the awards: “What a fantastic way to recognise these young people. They are making a difference and encouraging other young people to do the same.”
The British Citizen Youth Award (BCyA) was launched in 2016 with the purpose of recognising young people who positively impact society. Those awarded a medal are invited to use the BCyA letters after their name to reflect the achievement of being recognised.
Katlyn with fellow recipients of the medal.
