Two Royal Navy helicopter rescue workers who saved 12 people, including two children, from a bus stranded in floodwater have been recognised for their extraordinary efforts.
Lieutenant Commander Richard Lightfoot and Petty Officer Alan Speed received accolades from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on Friday just over a year after the rescue, which occurred on one of their last days working together.
With the helicopter rapidly running out of fuel and communication systems down, all 12 passengers were lifted to safety in December 2015, after floodwaters had partially submerged the bus in Dailly, South Ayrshire, during Storm Frank.
Lt Cdr Lightfoot received the Air Force Cross, which is given for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy".
PO Speed was handed the Queen's Gallantry Medal, which honours "exemplary acts of bravery".
Lt Cdr Lightfoot, who led the operation, said receiving the award was "amazing" and had left him "blown away".
"We had a very busy day, I think we had five jobs in total and that was the fourth of the five, so we had already been out all day."
He detailed how the team was rapidly running out of fuel and had to make a "big decision" to stay.
PO Speed, who lifted the passengers to safety, said he spent so much time in the water he became known as "the human tea bag".
He recalled how he had lost communication with the aircraft during the busy rescue.
"We were hand-signalling and using glow sticks. Luckily he (Lt Cdr Lightfoot) can read my mind so it went fine."
PO Speed added: "It's just knowing you've got a good team you're working with and everyone at HMS Gannet were good operators so I was happy to put my life in any of their hands, especially Lieutenant Commander Lightfoot."
The job proved to be the pair's penultimate together as Lt Cdr Lightfoot departed the team after search and rescue responsibility was passed over from the Royal Navy to Bristow Helicopters.
PO Speed, who said he "can't get enough" of working in search and rescue, added he would celebrate his accolade with "a pint and a rum chaser".
On the rescue, he added: "That feeling when the mother and the children just gave me a big hug and said thank you, it just makes it all worthwhile."
Lt Cdr Lightfoot said: "Nine years of search and rescue, over 500 jobs and almost the last job we do was that. And then to get this recognition, it is incredible."
"Who would have thought a year on we would be standing here collecting these. Amazing."
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