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# Firefighter’s award after quick-thinking saved biker’s life in Lichfield crash
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/firefighters-award-after-quick-thinking-saved-bikers-life-in-lichfield-crash/
- Published: 2011-04-11T07:30:07.000Z
- Updated: 2011-04-10T18:47:46.000Z
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:32, News

A firefighter has won an award after his quick-thinking saved the life of a motorcyclist after a crash near Lichfield.

Christopher Craddock was off duty when he came across the accident involving a biker and a pedestrian in March last year.

After discovering the motorcyclist was not not breathing, he removed the biker’s helmet to open his airway – a move which paid off instantly as the rider took a gasp of air and began to breath.

His quick-thinking earned Chris a West Midlands Ambulance Service Award – but he put his actions down to the knowledge he gained in his day job.

He explained:

> “Without my firefighter training, I wouldn’t have known what to do. My role as a firefighter also meant that I was able to request the required emergency services when I dialled 999 and on their arrival I quickly debriefed them so everyone could act quickly.  
>  
> “I received phone calls from both the man’s wife to express her gratitude and to tell me he was stable and also the biker himself once he was out of hospital.  
>  
> “For me, it didn’t matter that I was off duty and I just did what anyone else would have done – tried to help the injured people. I’m just glad no lives were lost that day and that I was able to help. It is an honour to receive a commendation for my actions but it honestly felt like I was just doing my job.”

Chris’ actions earned him the Chief Officer’s Commendation in the West Midlands Ambulance Service Awards.