A proud Forfar father relived the moment his son came to the rescue when he was knocked unconscious by a jolt from an electric fence.
Iain Wallace’s son Lachlan (13) has received The Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct, a medal given in recognition of his heroic efforts to save his dad.
The Scout Association also honoured Assistant Beaver Scout Group Leader Ceri Coates with the medal for the part she played in reviving Mr Wallace, who is Angus District Commissioner and leader of the 3rd Forfar Scouts.
He told how a hike by a group from the 3rd Forfar turned into a fright night on Hallowe’en.
“We had been down at the Jock Neish Centre and were walking back to Forfar from Tannadice,” said Mr Wallace, who works for Bank of Scotland.
He was walking behind the main party with his daughter Mirren, who was 10 at the time, while son Lachlan was walking up ahead with the rest of the group.
“I touched an unmarked electric fence and got a jolt off it and was knocked unconscious,” said Mr Wallace.
“Apparently I managed to walk about 30 yards holding Mirren’s hand although I don’t remember anything.”
Mirren, who is a Scout, was doing her hiker badge at the time but ended up getting a demonstration in first aid from her big brother who had only recently completed a St Andrews Ambulance Association training course.
“Lachlan put me in the recovery position and did first aid until I came around,” said Mr Wallace. “He totally switched off to the fact it was his father and just did what he had been taught.”Textbook recoveryCeri (22), who also has first aid training and is an anatomy student at Dundee, pitched in.
“They dealt with it in textbook fashion,” Mr Wallace said. “I am definitely very proud of them and it just shows the training Lachlan got at St Andrews Ambulance worked. I would encourage anyone to go for it.”
Ceri and Lachlan were presented with their medals at a ceremony in Edinburgh. The awards are not common and Mr Wallace said he hasn’t heard of any other Scouts in Forfar being awarded the medal in recent years.
Scottish Chief Commissioner Eleanor Lyall presenting the awards said, “I am delighted that these members of the movement have been recognised for their quick thinking.
“It is also very satisfying to know that the knowledge and skills learnt as members of the Scout Movement have been used to help others.
“We are very proud of the fact that we can pass on these skills and instil in our young people the need to use the knowledge gained to help other people.”