Copyright jamaica-gleaner
Teenage hero Adrian Ellis, who saved the life of his friend following a bloody mishap, was greeted with loud cheers and a standing ovation as he proudly walked to collect his award for gallantry at King’s House in St Andrew yesterday. “I am feeling great,” the 14-year-old student of Ascot High told The Gleaner moments after collecting his award, which recognises extraordinary acts of bravery in service to others. Ellis, the lone recipient of an award for gallantry at this year’s Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards, is among 141 individuals honoured for their contributions across sectors such as entertainment, health, finance, sports, and education. He said the reception from his school community and neighbours has been overwhelmingly positive. “They even give me a nickname, calling me ‘hero’,” he said, adding that he is very proud of himself. Ellis saved the life of his schoolmate and friend, Roxanne Riley, on April 30 of this year at Portmore Mall in St Catherine. Recalling the incident, Riley said they were among other children at the mall early in the morning when a boy she knew from primary school tripped her. “He dweet to one a wi classmate and she jump over, but me did a run and him put out him foot and mi drop. Me skate and then me flip over and get up and put me hand on me forehead and realise say blood did a spray hard.” She said everyone around started recording and laughing. “The whole a dem start tek out dem phone and start video and laugh,” she said. “And Adrian take off his undershirt and use it to press on me forehead, and the bleeding kind a stop.” A taxi driver subsequently took her to the Greater Portmore Clinic. Initially, Riley said she did not take her injuries seriously. “To be honest, me never bawl.” But after the incident, she began to fret and broke down in tears. After she left the doctor and got home, she immediately called Ellis and thanked him for his assistance. “I told him I appreciate him,” she said. “I am very proud of him,” said his mother, Trecia Stewart, while acknowledging that she was not surprised by his actions. “When me hear say him get award, eyewater come a me eye, seriously.” She described her son as helpful, polite, and always willing. His grandmother, Pansy Spencer, shared the same sentiment. “I am very proud of him. I did know that he had that thinking in him, so I am very proud of him, and I encourage him all the while to be kind.” She added that the community is equally proud. Spencer said that, as they were heading out to the ceremony, a group of young people started cheering after she told them Adrian was going to collect his award. Alando Terrelonge, member of parliament (MP) for St Catherine East Central, in whose constituency Ellis resides, heaped praises on the young man for his bravery and admirable attitude. “When we speak about our young people and striving for excellence and being selfless, Adrian represents that. His act of bravery and quick thinking saved her life and she is here today to tell him thanks,” Terrelonge, who is also said. The MP pointed out that the doctor had indicated that Riley would have lost her life if Ellis had not stepped in and stopped the bleeding. “He exemplifies the very best of our youth, and I want our Jamaican youngsters to take an example from Adrian’s book,” Terrelonge said, adding that the young man was also doing well in school. Despite not having any formal first-aid training, Ellis said he had picked up emergency response tips from watching movies and TikTok videos. Relying on instinct, he did what he could to prevent his friend from losing too much blood. tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com
