Boy who made safety whistles 'humbled' by award

Luke said it was "an amazing surprise, very humbling" to be bestowed with the British Citizen Youth Award

A boy who made safety whistles to help stranded mountaineers in emergencies as part of a fundraising drive has received a national award.

Luke, from South Shields, created and sold 3D-printed safety whistles and also ran half-marathons to fundraise for Northumberland and Lake District mountain rescue teams.

The 14-year-old was one of 22 children bestowed with the British Citizen Youth Award (BCYA) at the Palace of Westminster on Thursday.

He said it was "an amazing surprise, very humbling", while his dad Sean said he was "immensely proud of Luke's achievement and his selflessness in wanting to make a difference".

The BCYA is designed to recognise the individual endeavours of young people who are having a positive impact on their communities, helping charities, or undertaking exceptional activities in support of others.

Luke said it was "amazing to be at the palace... such a beautiful building".

In January Luke said he bought a 3D printer and made safety whistles to sell to different groups, raising £1,650 for Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team.

Luke also completed an annual half-marathon twice, raising further funds for Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team, in memory of a neighbour's son.

Luke said he uses his pocket money to create the safety whistles

Luke said he was inspired to fundraise from "spending a lot of time walking in the hills and mountains" with his dad, Sean, who is a volunteer ranger and winter mountain leader.

Sean described Luke, who has aspirations to be a Marine Biologist, as a "humble shy young man, who loves the outdoors".

"From being an advanced open water scuba diver qualified at 12-years-old, he is an Army Cadet at Hebburn Detachment and is a qualified marksman," he added.

Luke said he "couldn't' wait" to add his post nominate BCYA to his passport and on the school register.

Luke's dad Sean said his family was "immensely proud of Luke's achievement"

The teenager said it would be great to find a sponsor to help him with funding the production of 3D-printed whistles because he currently uses all of his pocket money.

He added that he would continue fundraising and "wanted to make a bigger difference".

Sean said: "We are immensely proud of Luke's achievement, his selflessness in wanting to make a difference and help an important charity that put their lives on the line to help and rescue others.

"They are the true heroes."