AN army reservist from Malton has been praised for helping a man who was seriously injured in a crash.

Sergeant Becky Trousdale, a combat medical technician, was thanked by Lincolnshire Police after putting her skills into practice on the A1 near Grantham.

Becky, 36, was travelling in a military ambulance as part of a convoy of vehicles from 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (4 YORKS) when they spotted the crash on Saturday, September 19.

She pulled her ambulance in next to the central reservation and tend to two casualties from the two-vehicle accident.

"We were travelling down to Lydd in Kent for our annual deployment exercise when we saw two injured people in the road - a man and a woman," said Becky.

“It must just have happened as no emergency services had arrived. A young army officer, who was from another unit, seemed to be co-ordinating everything.

“I checked both casualties and the woman was already in the recovery position and people were with her.

"The man seemed to have quite serious injuries so I stayed with him to monitor him, keep him still to prevent his injuries becoming worse and reassure him.

“An off duty paramedic also stopped and assisted.”

The emergency services arrived at the scene a few minutes later and the casualties were airlifted to hospital.

Becky has been a reservist for 13 years serving as a combat medic in Iraq in 2005 and in the Falkland Islands in 2010.

“I felt that the medical training I have had in the reserves really helped,” said Becky, who works during the week as an equine nurse at Rainbow Equine Hospital in Malton.

“As soon as people see the uniform it gives them confidence that someone is controlling the situation.”

Following the collision, the injured man was described by Lincolnshire Police as “serious but stable” and a spokesman commended Becky’s actions.

He said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the actions of these officers.

"Their help in providing assistance at the scene before the emergency services arrived would have been a great comfort to those involved who would undoubtedly have been distressed and worried.

"I’m sure I can speak for all emergency responders when I say a big thank you to them.”

Afterwards, Becky joined the rest of 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment to complete her two-week annual camp in Kent.

4 YORKS is the Army Reserve Infantry unit of Yorkshire and Cleveland with centres throughout the region. For more information, visit army.mod.uk/infantry/regiments/24555.aspx