The Royal Navy Reservist and HM Coastguard helicopter SAR Winchman and Paramedic is based in Newquay, Cornwall. He was selected in recognition of his commitment and demonstration of resilience and self-efficiency in both his civilian and military roles.

Lt Williams said: “I am utterly humbled by the award as it represents the courage and bravery of those who put others ahead of themselves for a fight they believed in and were unwilling to give up. Being chosen as the ELMS trophy recipient is particularly appreciated as I was nominated by the staff from the Defence SERE Training Organisation, with whom I work closely.”

After serving for 26 years in the Royal Navy, with one of his roles being a SAR diver, Lt Williams joined Bristow Helicopters’ SAR team in 2014, initially working out of Tanzania.

Since returning to the UK, he operated as a Winchman and Paramedic at the HM Coastguard Base at Newquay.

Damien Oliver, Commercial and Programmes Director at the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, said: “Bungi has completed numerous taskings ranging from medical evacuations to recovering casualties from areas around the Cornish and Devon coastline; including a time critical extraction of three crewmembers from a coal carrying merchant vessel who had all been involved in an enclosed space explosion and were suffering from greater than 50 per cent burns. Throughout each of these incidents and many more, his motivation has been to ensure that those he rescues may have the best chance of survival.”