Fire cadet helped pregnant woman after hit-and-run

Robert, seen here with his parents, said: "I had to stop and help"

A fire cadet who helped a pregnant woman and her partner after their car had been hit by a drunk driver has been recognised with a national award.

Robert, who was 13 at the time, had been travelling home from cadets at Basingstoke Fire Station last September when he witnessed the incident.

He gave the injured couple first aid and was able to provide the precise location to emergency services.

He has been recognised with a National Fire Chief's Council courage in adversity award.

The 14-year-old is part of the Basingstoke Cadet unit

The teenager said: "I had to stop and help.

"If I wasn't in Fire Cadets I wouldn't have known what to do first, I wouldn't have known to check for danger, how to make sure the couple in the car were alright and I wouldn't have known what to say to the police or the ambulance.

"I visited the fire service control room with cadets and the call handlers explained what information they need to send the right help."

Once emergency services arrived, the injured couple were taken to A&E to be assessed, whilst Robert remained at the scene.

He was able to provide police with enough detail so they could find and arrest the driver.

Robert received a National Fire Chief's Council courage in adversity award

The pregnant woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said Robert was "the first person to help", adding: "He took control, immediately rang 999 and coordinated all the efforts remaining on the phone whilst checking I was ok.

"I want Robert to know how much I appreciated his effort," she said.

Reece, Robert's Dad, said he was "incredibly proud".

"He not only stopped to help when others wouldn't have, but he remained calm," he said.