HOLSWORTHY soldier Jon List has hailed the heroine who saved him when he was shot in the neck during a gun battle in Afghanistan.

L/Cpl List was fulsome in his praise of Royal Navy medic Kate Nisbett, who has just become the first woman in the senior service to receive the Military Cross.

Medical Assistant Kate braved the Taleban fire to look after and treat Jon during the gun battle in March this year in Nawa, Lashkar Gah.

Kate repeatedly demonstrated courage under fire as she moved across open ground to the aid of wounded colleagues from 3 Commando Royal Marines.

Able Seaman Class 1 Kate, from Plymouth, dressed Jon's wound and kept him from losing blood while the battle raged around her.

Receiving her medal from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace, she said:

"When it all happened, we were in the middle of an operation but I would not in a million years have thought anyone would follow it up."

It was her "biggest shock" when she had news of the award of the Military Cross.

"It made it all seem real being here today. It has been so special. When I looked over and saw my Mum and Dad it was the proudest day of my life."

Jon, aged 22, still has the bullet scars on his neck and the date of the attack tattooed on his arm, with the words: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

He told the day it happened.

"I felt the impact go through my jaw and the next thing I knew I was on my back. I thought that was it.

"Kate appeared from nowhere, reassuring me that everything would be OK. She says to be called a hero is too much but I say it could never be enough."

His Mum, Debbie said: "We are so thrilled for Kate that she received the recognition she deserves.

"Without her aid, we would not have Jon with us today. There are no words to explain our gratitude to her."