A German Navy student pilot who helped to save the life of a young boy has been honoured by the Royal Humane Society.

As reported in the echo, Lieutenant Johannes Rolle was on Portland completing his training to become a Search and Rescue helicopter pilot with island-based HeliOperations.

He helped save ten-year-old Rufus Wilson, from Weymouth, after the lad became trapped underwater in a private swimming pool complex at Atlantic House on Portland.

Lt Rolle noticed Rufus's father trying to rescue his son and immediately rushed to help him.

Rufus was unconscious and not breathing so Lt Rolle gave him CPR and resuscitated him, saving his life.

Rufus was then taken to hospital by an ambulance where he was admitted for five days. He has now fully recovered.

Lt Rolle has now been awarded a Resuscitation Certificate by the Royal Humane Society.

Andrew Chapman, Secretary of the Royal Humane Society, said: "Put simply Johannes was the right person in the right place at the right time.

"But for Johannes’s swift action the boy would almost certainly have died. Johannes did a magnificent job and richly deserves the award he is to receive.

“This is one of many well deserved resuscitation certificates awarded by us to those who have used CPR to save lives. It’s another case which emphasises the need for as many people as possible to learn this technique.

“I’m sure that most people when they learn it hope they will never be called on to use it, but as this incident graphically shows, when it is needed it can, as it did here make the difference between life and death.”

The Royal Humane Society, founded in 1774, is a British charity that aims to honour bravery in the saving of human life.

In its history, the society has made more than 200,000 awards.

Lt Rolle has since returned to Germany having successfully completed training to become a Search and Rescue helicopter pilot.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax, who backed the establishment of HeliOperations on Portland after the SAR Helicopter was discontinued by the Marine and Coastguard Agency, said: “I am delighted that the Royal Humane Society has recognised the extraordinary act of heroism by this young man”.

“We owe Lieutenant Rolle our gratitude and wish him well on his return to Germany”.