A CUMBRIAN firefighter is among 12 recipients in the Civil Gallantry List 2021, unveiled today, for their acts of heroism.

Stephen Wharton is among eight recipients of the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery Award for his rescue of a 13 year-old boy who was drowning in the River Eden in 2019.

At great personal risk, Crew Manager Wharton removed his protective kit and dived to a depth two to three metres to retrieve the boy and bring him to the surface.

“At the time you don’t see it as a risk, you just think that if it was your kids that somebody would be there to do the same with them.

“You do what you are employed to do.

“As soon as I was floating on top of him I could see a blurred outline of the boy.

“I tried touching him with my feet, and it was at that point that I realised that I should take my flotation device off.

“I thought that I should give it a go and try and get down to him, so thankfully on the first attempt we got him out.”

Stephen was with the crew from Appleby Fire Station on that day.

A crew from Penrith with an SRT team, paramedics and the GNAAS were also in attendance.

The boy was resuscitated after having been underwater for 20 minutes and later made a full recovery.

Stephen said he still keeps in touch with the boy.

He added: “I’m a painter and decorator for my day job and I was doing a property not far off from them two or three weeks ago, and he actually came over to tell me that he was starting college in September.

“It was nice to hear that he’s getting back to normality and leading a good life.”

On hearing that he would receive the award, Stephen said: “It’s a great honour and I was quite surprised, really.

“At the end of the day we are the fire service and this is just what we do.”