A young girl from Rochdale has been honoured by the UK’s Chief Scout for her bravery after saving her injured grandad during a countryside walk.
Lucy Clegg, a Scout from Rochdale, has received national recognition for her extraordinary bravery during a crisis in the West Pennine Hills, where her swift actions helped save her grandad’s life.
Chief Scout Dwayne Fields presented Lucy with the Unsung Heroes Award at a special ceremony held at Gilwell Park, the national home of Scouting, on 9 May. The award honours young Scouts who have shown outstanding courage and selflessness in their communities.
Lucy was among 20 young people selected from over 100 nominees, representing the very best of the 475,000 Scouts across the UK. Collectively, the winners have saved eight lives, supported people through hardship, and raised over £56,000 for personal causes.
During a walk with her grandad, Lucy acted quickly when he slipped into a river, injuring his ankle and entering a state of shock and early hypothermia. She calmly assessed his condition, made him comfortable, and tried to get him out of the river. When she realised she couldn’t move him on her own, she used the What3Words app to pinpoint their exact location and ran for help.
Lucy had learned about the app in Cubs and applied that training with precision. While waiting five to six hours for Mountain Rescue, she kept her grandad warm with her own clothes, made a crutch from a tree branch, and kept his spirits up through conversation and humour. She also communicated confidently with emergency responders, a significant act for someone who finds speaking with strangers difficult due to mild autism.
After the incident, Lucy shared her experience with her Cubs group to demonstrate how Scout skills can be vital in real-world emergencies. Her dad praised her for using “one of the most practical skills she had ever learned in Scouts,” describing her composure as overwhelming and admirable.
Reflecting on the rescue, Lucy said: “It was surreal and emotionally intense, especially when I had to leave my grandad to get help. The adrenaline kept me going. My Scout training gave me a baseline knowledge and made me feel prepared.”
She added that being recognised as one of Dwayne’s Heroes is “exciting and important,” and hopes her story encourages other young people to believe in themselves during difficult situations.
Chief Scout Dwayne Fields said, “Congratulations to these incredible young people. They have shown the highest values of Scouting – bravery, service, and leadership. Their actions demonstrate why being part of the Scouts is so powerful.”
The Unsung Heroes Award recognises young people from all branches of Scouting – including Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, and Network members – for acts of courage and leadership. Each recipient was nominated by Scout volunteers and selected by a panel of Scout Ambassadors.
The award ceremony brought together family, friends and Scout members from across the country to celebrate the new award’s inaugural winners and hear their inspiring stories.
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