'I was only doing my job' says Military Cross medic

Sep 25 2010 by Lisa Hutchinson, The Journal

AN Army medic awarded the Military Cross for her bravery in Afghanistan has insisted she was only doing her job.

Sarah Bushbye, 25, from Killingworth, North Tyneside, has been commended for her outstanding actions after ducking bullets from insurgents in Afghanistan while trying to save the lives of four others.

Suicide bombers attacked the patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand province, killing four soldiers and injuring others.

But Sarah put her own life at risk as she came under heavy fire attempting to save their lives.

Back at her mother’s house in Camperdown, North Tyneside, yesterday, she modestly insisted that she had only done what any of her comrades would do in the same circumstances.

She said: “Everyone who is out there deserves a medal. We all go through the same fears, scary moments and the same feelings. We’re all serving our country and it shouldn’t be just a handful who get medals, we all deserve one.”

Sarah, now an acting corporal with 3 Medical Regiment, was on duty in December 2009 attached to the 3 Rifles Battle Group when her checkpoint was attacked by the two suicide bombers. Ignoring the risks of further bombs and incoming fire, she dashed across 500 yards of open ground to reach the four Afghans and two British soldiers injured in the attack.

“It was December last year and I was out with the platoon. We were split in two halves, we were on higher ground and the others were in the dried riverbed.

“There had been explosive devices going off all day so we weren’t shocked when we heard the bangs, but it came over the radio that there had been casualties. We ran towards the area and the bullets were flying by.

“The Taliban were shooting down on us and we were exposed because we were in the riverbed with nowhere to go.

“When I saw the scene I couldn’t believe it, there were body parts everywhere. Bodies on the floor, legs and arms, it was horrific.

“I was the only medic and people were saying ‘go on Sarah’. I knew what I had to do.” Sarah, who served in Afghanistan for six months, added: “For about 45 minutes I had to run between the two worst injured to help them. They weren’t close together because the blast had blown them far apart.

“I was the only medic and had to keep going. At the same time bullets and bombs were going off and the noise was so loud. It was the worst incident I’ve seen.

“Sadly four people died that day – the two I worked on both died in hospital later. But we could have all died, me included, if the vehicles hadn’t arrived when they did. They came and started firing back at the Taliban.

“But I don’t see this as me being a hero. That’s what you’ve been trained to do and you just do it.

“Everyone out there has a role and we are all as important as each other, every single person counts.”

Sarah, who was a black belt in taekwondo at the age of 13, is a keen horse rider and has represented her Army unit in the skiing team.

Newly-wed Sarah was given the news of her medal on Monday while she was on holiday in Crete with her husband Danny. She told her parents, Michael and Maureen Bushbye, but had to keep it a secret until it was formally announced.

The former George Stephenson High School pupil will be presented with her Military Cross by the Queen at a later date.

Sarah added: “I’m now in training to go back to Afghanistan in 2012. I’ll wear my Military Cross with my Afghan tour medal. But when I’m back out there I’ll forget all about it and just do the medic’s job I’m supposed to do.”