This is Bristol --A TEAM of Bristol school pupils have been praised for their actions during the Ten Tors challenge.
Six 15-year-olds from Bedminster Down School set off in gale force winds and torrential rain to trek 35 miles across Dartmoor.
But on the first day they were involved in rescuing a girl from another team who was being swept away on a swollen river.
Steve Christie, business manager at the school, said: "On the first day of the trek, and having made good time, the team, led by Matt Hunt, decided to find a safer place to cross a dangerously swollen river.
"Whilst waiting to cross the waist-high water, a girl in the group in front lost her footing and was carried off downstream.
"Team member Max Alford quickly used his throw line to pull the girl to safety.
"She was picked up by the air ambulance and is now fine.
"The team from the school then used their throw line to fashion a guide rope across the river and helped in excess of 100 Ten Tors challengers to safely cross the river.
"The three and a half hours spent helping others at the river gave them little chance of completing the route themselves.
"But on hearing of their exploits, Brigadier Piers Hankinson, who is in charge of the challenge, took the highly unusual step of awarding the students their medals, even though they did not finish.
"In a special presentation ceremony, it was noted that the 'selflessness of the team demonstrated the true spirit of the Ten Tors'".
The team from Bedminster Down included Matt Hunt, Max Alford, Monique Ben-Carew, Charlie Bright, Alice Baker and Harry Roddick.
Brigadier Hankinson said: "In the spirit and ethos of the Ten Tors Challenge it is excellent that a team was willing to stop and help another team's member who slipped into the water while trying to cross the river.
"Safety is – and will always be – at the heart of Ten Tors and the team can be congratulated for carrying out its safety drills to the best effect.
"This selfless act is further commendable, given the fact that the team gave up the opportunity of making the finish deadline time of 5pm on Sunday by staying and helping at the scene.
"We will of course be carrying out a learning account of this incident ahead of Ten Tors 2014, as is our usual practice."
A team from Queen Elizabeth's Hospital school in Bristol was the first to cross the finish line after completing the 45-mile route, 20 minutes ahead of their nearest rivals.
Patrick Bapty, 16, who was the leader of the team, said: "It feels absolutely incredible. I feel very, very sore but very, very happy. My feet are the worst. I think I must have at least eight or nine blisters. It was really, really hard." Reported by This is 1 day ago.