Nine officers of the Bermuda Regiment were awarded yesterday for rescuing a paralysed man and his pregnant sister during Hurricane Igor.

The Category 1 storm knocked out electricity at Lauren Wilson's Paget home on September 19. Moments later, the generator running her son's life support system broke down Wolde Bartley, 29, was left brain damaged after a car accident in 2004 and today relies on oxygen tanks to stay alive.

Regiment soldiers braved the Category 1 storm in order to take Mr Bartley and his sister, Walette Maldanardo, to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. Mrs Maldanardo gave birth to a baby girl the following day.

The soldiers' efforts were rewarded with a Bermuda CableVision Community Service Award yesterday.

CableVision general manager Terry Roberson described the rescue as "chivalrous support for the common good".

He said: "These men and women deserve our utmost admiration for this brave act during a time of crisis for the Island. It is reassuring to know that within our community there are individuals such as these who are willing and able to rally to the support of others when nature is acting against us."

The team was also applauded by National Security Minister David Burch and Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Minister Walter Roban.

Commanding Officer Lt Col Brian Gonsalves was present for the ceremony as were the officers involved in the rescue efforts Capt Duncan Simons, Sgt Major Gary White, Colour Sgt Frederick Pereech, Sgt Jason Smith, Cpl Shannon Jennings, Cpl Carol Everson, L/Cpl Jason Swan, Acting L/Cpl Eric DeSilva and Acting L/Cpl Daniel Bascome. Mr Roban said: "While many of us were tucked away in the safety of our homes ... these nine men were out there battling the elements to rescue others who might have been in harm."

Lt Col Gonsalves accepted the award on the Regiment's behalf.

"We don't do what we do to receive awards, we do it because we're here to protect Bermuda, and when Bermuda calls we answer. Thank you very much, and we will continue to serve Bermuda as best we can," he said.

Cpl Everson — who is raising money to buy a new generator for Mr Bartley — also received a surprise donation of $1000 from CableVision for her cause.

She said: "Every time there's a problem with power and this family has tried to use the generator, it's failed. So this is a wonderful contribution. The idea is to raise money for a new one to run all the equipment that Mr Bartley needs."

On the night of the storm, the team arrived at the family's home with a land cruiser and Regimental ambulance inside half an hour of the generator breaking down.

Capt Simons said: "We'd spent the storm at Warwick Camp, waiting to deploy once the storm went down to go out and clear roads, do whatever had to be done. We got the call and went down Middle Road, out of the wind. The road was pretty clear. We arrived and took care of it all pretty straightforwardly."

Sgt Smith added: "This rescue was something that just came up. It was at a point where the storm was easier than we had expected. Five minutes' notice and off we went. I was there as a chainsaw operator. It was windy out, but we didn't come across too much debris.

"As the CO said, we don't do this service to the community for awards, but the fact that (Mr Bartley) used to be in the army makes it all the more special to me. We train and train for the chance to do something real, we just go out and do it; it's an adventure. It's an honour, though; I don't get many awards in my life."

According to Mrs Wilson, the family's generator broke down permanently on the night of the hurricane. She said: "We need it to keep all Wolde's machines running. He can't swallow; he can't do anything for himself. His bed is an air mattress and it folds up without power.

"So I'd like to thank the Regiment, the neighbours and everybody who came out, and everybody's who's helping us get a new generator now, including Besco who have been helping us bring in a new generator."

She added that Mr Bartley is doing well, as is Mrs Maldanardo and her baby, who live next door.

CableVision's community service awards are given out each quarter. The next awards will be given in January, and the company invites members of the public to nominate candidates for consideration.