West Sussex woman who saved the life of man injured in violent attack given two top honours

Saonie Wilkin, from Horsham, went to the aid of two men who were attacked and robbed outside her house late at night on August 26 last year.

She brought one of them back from the brink of death after he collapsed and stopped breathing during the incident, which happened at 11pm.

Now Saonie has been awarded two top national honours – one for her bravery and the other for saving the man’s life.

Saonie heard a commotion in the street outside her home and when she rushed outside she found two injured men.

By then their three attackers were running away but she had no idea what sort of danger she might have to face in the dark street.

She provided tissues for one of the attack victims who was bleeding.

But then the second victim came towards her, fell to the ground, began having convulsions and stopped breathing.

Saonie checked his airways and then immediately began to administer CPR.

After about ten chest compressions the man suddenly gasped and started breathing again, though he was still unresponsive.

Saonie placed him in the recovery position and then a medically trained neighbour who had arrived on the scene took over caring for the man, who went on to survive.

Now Saonie has been awarded a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Parchment for her bravery in going to the man’s aid when she herself could have been attacked.

She is also to receive one of the society’s Resuscitation Certificates for bringing the man back from the brink of death after he stopped breathing.

In addition to the awards she has also won the personal praise of Andrew Chapman, secretary of the Royal Humane Society.

He said: “Saonie acted with great courage. She heard shouting and a commotion in the street outside her home, but despite the potential danger to her, she went out into the dark street to see what was happening.

“She then helped one man who was bleeding from the attack he had suffered and resuscitated the other one after he collapsed and stopped breathing.

“She was a true heroine and richly deserves the awards that have been made to her.

“At the same time this is yet another case which emphasises the need for as many people as possible to learn CPR techniques.

“I’m sure that when they take the training people probably hope they will never be called on to put it into practice.

“However, if it is needed it can, as it did here, make the difference between life and death.”

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the awards.

The roots of the Royal Humane Society stretch back more than two centuries.

The Queen is its patron and its president is Princess Alexandra. It is the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.

It was founded in 1774 by two of the day’s eminent medical men, William Hawes and Thomas Cogan. Their primary motive was to promote techniques of resuscitation.

However, as it emerged that numerous people were prepared to put their own lives at risk to save others, the awards scheme evolved, and today a variety of awards are made depending on the bravery involved.

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