Twelve Scouts in the UK have been honoured for their bravery including a 13-year-old boy who risked his life to save a friend who fell through ice on a lake.

Damian Coles, of Stevenage, Herts, received a Scout bravery award for rescuing his friend who was drowning. Hannah Walker, 14, from Sheerness, Kent, was recognised after she pushed another schoolgirl to safety when a vent fell from a school gym ceiling.

Chief Scout Bear Grylls said all 12 Scouts were an "inspiration".

Damian went into action after the other boy walked on to the ice to retrieve a bike which bullies had thrown on to the lake. He said: "I saw him fall in through the ice and I knew I had to do something quickly or he could die.

Other Scouts honoured by The Scout Association include 14-year-old Hannah Walker from Sheerness, Kent.

Hannah was with her school friends taking her GCSE exams in her school gym when a ceiling vent fell on top of her fellow pupils. She pushed one of them out of the way, but sustained head and back injuries in the process. Despite her own injuries, all she thought about was caring for her friends who were injured and one who was unconscious. 

Hannah said, 'It was a very windy day and that caused the accident. I just acted out of instinct and I was determined to help my friends. I never realised until later that I was injured as well.'

 Andrew, 18, from Deal in Kent, was part of Kent Scouts’ adventure expedition to South Africa last summer. 

Whilst using his lifesaving qualifications and supervising other Scouts swimming in the sea, he was informed that a local fisherman had fallen into the water and was being swept away. Andrew used a body board to swim out into the rough sea to rescue and save his life. 

Andrew said, 'I made the decision to paddle 70 metres through high waves to reach him. The waves were pulling us towards some rocks, so I had to act quickly and bring him to the shore. If it wasn’t for my first aid training in Scouting, I would never have been able to save him. It was a relief for both of us when we reached the beach.'

Andrew will receive a Certificate of Commendation from the Royal Life Saving Society UK.

Scout Leader Mike Davis played a major role as a team leader with Bay Search and Rescue, supporting Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service as part of the Technical Rescue Team in Cockermouth. 

Mike said, 'I was the driver of our all-terrain emergency response vehicle. We were responsible for checking the water levels and we worked all night. It was a hard 26 hours but the things I’ve learned and done during my time in Scouting helped enormously.'

Kerena, a nine-year-old Cub Scout, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, showed huge maturity following the tragic death of her mother through cancer. 

Shortly before her mother died, Kerena cared for her five year old brother, Ben, keeping him occupied and entertained, leaving her parents time to spend together.

Kerena’s father, Steve, said, 'Kerena has shown a great deal of bravery as she keeps our family life as normal as possible, especially for her younger brother. She is a bright and happy girl, and maintains a really positive outlook on life.'

Robert, 11, from Watford, Hertfordshire, saved his mother who suddenly collapsed at home. 

Whilst she was lying unconscious, Robert used his skills that he learnt as a Scout to phone for an ambulance and care for his mother. He also had to calm his younger sister who had become distressed.

Robert said, 'My Mum was not feeling well and she fainted. I remembered being taught at Scouts how to dial 999, so I did and told them what happened. It was the first time that I had to do this and it was scary.

'The ambulance took ten minutes to arrive so I had to make sure my Mum was okay all that time. I put her in the recovery position. I was really pleased that I could help her.'

Scouting Radio sends their congratulations to all recipients!