A young care assistant is to be honoured after putting her own life at risk to save a severely autistic woman.

Josy Taylor, from Goudhurst, did not hesitate when she realised the woman had run off along a railway line near where she works.

In the pouring rain, the 19-year-old set off in pursuit, despite the fact she could have fallen on the live rail or been hit by a train herself.

She said: “It was difficult to catch up with her, I had to run about a mile.

“When I reached her, she freaked out. I couldn’t communicate with her at all.”

Josy could not persuade the woman to get off the tracks, but kept her still and gave her a coat to keep warm until a train came slowly in the other direction, stopped, and the guard and driver helped get the woman to safety. By then Josy was freezing and soaked through.

Police commended her to the Royal Humane Society. The society has decided to award Josy a Bravery Testimonial on Vellum signed by Princess Alexandra.

Society secretary Dick Wilkinson said: “It was a harrowing incident and there was always the chance that both women could have been killed.”

Josy, from High Ridge, described the day last October when she was the only person waiting on the platform at Wadhurst Station after finishing work at Wadhurst Manor Nursing Home.

She said: “I was aware a girl went past me. Actually I thought she was much younger than she turned out to be.

"Ten minutes later, a woman appeared in a panic, shouting had I seen anyone, I then realised the girl was no longer on the platform and had set off down the tracks towards Frant.”

“It’s amazing to get the award, but the real reward is knowing that I may have saved the girl’s life" - Josy Taylor

The woman, aged 20, had been attending a special school for those with learning difficulties, but had got away from her carers. Josy shouted she would go after her, while the carer phoned 999.

Josy, a former pupil at High Weald Academy, had initially been keen on a career in the law, but a temporary job at Hartley House care home in Cranbrook set her on a different path.

She now wants to become a nurse. She said: “I love looking after people, especially those with dementia, they are like children.”

Josy said: “It’s amazing to get the award, but the real reward is knowing that I may have saved the girl’s life.”