Cadet warrant officer (CWO) Harry Neve, of 1064 (Honiton) Squadron, snapped into action when he was called to assist a female in distress.

A quick-thinking Honiton air cadet, who snapped into action to save the life of a stricken university student, has been given a prestigious military award recognising his actions.

Cadet warrant officer (CWO) Harry Neve, of 1064 (Honiton) Squadron, was in his accommodation at the University of the West of England last year when he was called to assist another student in distress.

Harry, who lives in Willow Walk, carried out an initial survey, which revealed the young lady had very rapid but shallow breathing. Realising the seriousness of the incident, Harry instructed other students to call an ambulance and bring an automated external defibrillator to the scene.

The situation worsened after the casualty deteriorated and she stopped breathing. But level-headed Harry, who has been with the cadets for four-and-a-half years, moved her on to the floor and opened her airway and, realising she still had a pulse, decided to give her rescue breaths.

Although she was taking the occasional breath on her own, without Harry’s assistance, she may not have survived.

Wing commander Brian Wills-Pope MBE DL, commanding officer for Devon and Somerset Wing air cadets, visited Honiton Squadron to personally present Harry with the Commandant’s Special Commendation from RAF Cranwell.

He said: “We are all very proud of CWO Neve’s actions and it shows how important first aid training can be.”

Nineteen-year-old Harry, who is studying aerospace engineering, told the Herald that what he did was not a choice, but something he had to do.

“The only thing I was thinking is this could go really badly if I don’t do something,” he said. “When you are in that situation, you are not thinking about anything apart from the person who is in distress.”

He said the award was a ‘pleasant surprise’, but stressed the importance of first aid, adding: “The best thing I can do for other people seeing me get this award is for them to see how important first aid is.”

Flt Lt Justin Felice, commanding officer of Honiton Air Cadets, said: “Harry is a role model and a credit to the squadron.

“He has done very well within the organisation and done many different things.

“He has grabbed with both hands the opportunities the Air Cadets has given him.”