Edinburgh woman receives prestigious award for exceptional bravery
The Vellum Award was only given to 31 people last year, including those who offered support to people caught up in the Manchester Arena bombing.
A woman from Edinburgh has received the Vellum Award - given to those who have demonstrated exceptional bravery in the face of danger - after she helped save the life of a man seriously injured after a car crash.
Chloe Bell, who was 20 at the time, was travelling behind the vehicle on the M90, near the Queensferry Crossing, when it crashed into the central reservation.
The male driver of the car became trapped, with life-threatening injuries.
An off-duty paramedic who saw the accident assessed the driver and decided he may need an emergency tracheotomy to save his life.
Miss Bell volunteered to be lifted through the smashed rear window, into the man's car, to hold the man's head so the treatment could be administered.
She spent around an hour in the car, despite the extensive damage and the strong smell of fuel.
She said: "After it, it did go through my head what could have potentially happened.
"At the time, I just wanted to help the person in need.
"I think it was just a natural reaction - I was full of adrenaline and just acted on it."
Miss Bell was recognised for her act of bravery at a surprise ceremony this afternoon in Woodlands House, at the the Astley Ainslie Hospital in the Grange area of Edinburgh, where she works.
The Vellum Award is given by the Royal Humane Society to people who have shown selfless bravery in dangerous situations.
There were 31 recipients of the award in 2017 - many of whom had offered support to victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack.