School site manager saves diabetic colleague's life

Lee Smith has also worked with vulnerable children and created more seating at Hethersett Academy

A school site manager has been recognised after saving the life of one of his colleagues who was in a diabetic coma.

Two years ago, Lee Smith, from Hethersett Academy near Norwich, realised a vulnerable colleague had failed to turn up to work.

He checked on them at home, but after getting no response, kicked the door down.

Mr Smith won an unsung hero award at the 2025 Pearson National Teaching Awards.

"I had a funny feeling in my stomach that something wasn't right... [I] kicked the door down, went upstairs, and he was in a diabetic coma upstairs," said Mr Smith.

Speaking to the BBC's The One Show, he said without kicking the door down, his colleague "would have died".

"I'd like to think we would all do it if we were called upon," he continued.

"We don't do it for recognition, but it's amazing."

It was not the only reason for his nomination, and when a colleague faced an amputation, Mr Smith worked to adapt his home and helped him return to work.

During his time at the school, he has also turned an old trampoline into a polytunnel for an eco area, created plenty of seating around the school, built bird tables for terminally ill colleagues and planted memorial trees for the school's pregnancy loss group.

The Pearson National Teaching Awards made him the gold winner of the unsung hero award for his compassion and consideration for others.

Tom Hilton, assistant principal, said: "Lee has accommodated lots of vulnerable children working with him on the site team on various projects around the site, those who might not otherwise have found their place at school."