Luke is now back at school in Nuneaton

Luke Taberer, from Nuneaton, put his training to good use to help Robert Furley on a trip to Perth last month.

The teenager noticed that Robert, from Nottinghamshire, had swallowed his tongue after the smoke from the fire triggered an asthma attack.

Luke, who is now back in the UK, was awarded a certificate of commendation.

He was presented with the award by the Australian St John Commissioner.

(Rob) was told if he had been left for 10 more minutes he would no longer be here Luke Taberer

Luke said: "As Perth was having its worst bush fires for 45 years we sometimes got the smoke from it, when the wind blew in our direction.

"As I could tell Rob was having an asthma attack I went to check on him every few minutes to see how he was recovering.

"The third time I went back he was lying, as if asleep, on his bed but still was wheezing, which he shouldn't have been when asleep.

"I tried to wake him to see if he was okay but I received no response. I then quickly shouted for help, removed anything that could have been a danger to him and opened his airway, by tilting his head back, to make sure he could get as much oxygen as possible into his body.

"After help arrived from the medical centre and the contingent leader notified he was taken to the hospital for treatment and was told if he had been left for 10 more minutes he would no longer be here."