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Airshow crash nurse honoured for risking his life to save pilot

Tony Kemp gave basic life support to pilot Andy Hill, whose jet crashed at Shoreham Airshow

A nurse who risked his life to save the pilot in last summer's Shoreham Airshow crash was honoured in London. 

Tony Kemp was senior volunteer clinician for the show at Shoreham Airport near Brighton, in August last year when a jet crashed on to the A27. Eleven people were killed.

Mr Kemp, honorary secretary of the British Association for Immediate Care, and a doctor, Karen Eastman, risked aviation fuel fire and possible explosions when they administered lifesaving care to pilot Andy Hill.

Last week, they – along with doctor Marianne Jackson, who cared for other casualties – received their awards from Royal Humane Society president Princess Alexandra.

Mr Kemp, principal lecturer and director of post-qualifying healthcare education at University of Bedfordshire, said: 'I was hugely honoured although very humbled when hearing the citations for others receiving their awards.

'My actions were within a wider team effort, which included the British Red Cross, ambulance, police and fire services.

'My thoughts remain with those killed and injured and the many others, including emergency service colleagues, who remain affected by that tragic day.'

Society secretary Dick Wilkinson described how there were casualties, multiple fires and debris across a wide area. 

Mr Kemp and Dr Eastman went through the crash debris to get to the aircraft, which was in a ditch below the A27 carriageway.

Mr Wilkinson said: ‘The fuselage was ablaze and there was a massive plume of smoke and flames. The source was the aviation fuel, which rapidly ignited the surrounding scrub and trees.

'The wind was blowing the fumes directly towards Mr Kemp and Dr Eastman and their entry route was obstructed by fire. During the time they were working, the flames moved from ten metres to six metres behind them.’

The pair could not move the pilot, so they carried out basic life support until paramedics arrived. 

Mr Kemp and Dr Eastman went on to help other casualties at the crash site and Mr Hill made a recovery.

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