A ROYAL Marine from Minehead has been honoured with a prestigious award for the part he played in rescuing injured American airmen from the burning wreckage of a helicopter in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Major Paul Ryan - better known as Buck - was named the Outstanding Marine in the Sun newspaper's annual Military Awards at a ceremony at London's Imperial War Museum on Wednesday evening.

Sgt Major Ryan, who serves with 40 Commando at Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, travelled to the capital with his wife Sarah - manager of Minehead's Cream café - for the awards.

And when his success was announced, Sarah immediately rang her sister, Jenny Collins, who was looking after the couple's children, 15-year-old William and Maisie, ten, at her Minehead home.

"It was about 10.30pm and William was still up," said Jenny.

"He woke Maisie up and they were both absolutely over the moon and so excited."

She said Sarah, who has been married for 18 years, had "been on a high" since the couple left for London on Tuesday.

"They've had a fantastic time and have met celebrities, top footballers and Prime Minister David Cameron.

"We're all so proud of him - he did a really brave thing."

Sgt Major Ryan, who returned from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in October, rallied his men in Charlie company to help the US crew after their helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled Taliban grenade.

Risking their own lives, they rushed to cut free the airmen, including the unconscious pilot and co-pilot.

Five marines crawled into the blazing fuselage to free a door gunner, cutting off his boots to release him, while a young medic carried out throat surgery on another.

Four airmen died in the crash but two others survived thanks to the dedicated leadership of Sgt Major Ryan.

Sgt Major Ryan said he was proud and humbled to receive the award but the recognition was for the whole of Charlie company: "It is never about one man. This was a team who I would trust my life with."