A TEENAGER who saved her grandad from bleeding to death after he severed his artery has been given an award from the High Sheriff of Gwent.

Fourteen-year-old Piper Meredith was one of several young air cadets from the 275 Nantyglo and Blaina Squadron Air Training Corps who were given awards last Thursday.

In December last year Piper, from Blaina, saved the life of her 72-year-old grandad Allen Hooper after an accident in his wine cellar just days after Christmas.

Piper gave first aid to her granddad, who was starting to lose consciousness and was going grey, while he was driven to the hospital by the family.

Doctors said Mr Hooper had severed his artery “100 per cent” and might not have survived if the family had waited for an ambulance to arrive.

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Tuggey, High Sheriff of Gwent, presented Piper with an award for valuable services to the community. Mayor of Blaenau Gwent, councillor Derrick Bevan, also attended.

Rebecca Morgan, civilian instructor at the Blaina air cadets, said: “Leigh [Piper’s mum] was at the squadron Thursday and I honestly thought she was going to burst with pride.”

Leigh Meredith, Piper's mum, said the whole family were proud and her daughter was very excited.

Also given certificates were Corporal Graham-Sawyers for passing the air cadet leadership course; Corporal Hucker and Sergeant Rose for completing BTEC Aviation Studies; and Corporal Meredith, Cadet Slimmon and Cadet Maund for completing their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Ms Morgan said: “It was brilliant. It was a real feel good evening, so nice to see so many of the cadets receiving certificates, so proud of what they are continually achieving.”

On top of this, the Blaina squadron’s first aid team – made up of Piper, along with Sergeant Rose, Cadet Bushell, Cadet Ball and civilian instructor Katie Toghill – came second at a Wales-wide first aid competition at the weekend.

The first aid team will now go on to compete at the national competition in November.

Piper said: “We had to do our first aid as a team and then as individuals and there were six other teams.”