The pair has responded to thousands of 999 calls and given immediate care to patients before ambulances turn up
Matt Lee Senior Multimedia Journalist
18:00, 04 Jan 2026
Ryan (left) and Dean Appleton (right) have volunteered with EEAST for more than a decade(Image: East of England Ambulance Service Trust)
Two identical twins from Essex have spent more than a decade volunteering and saving lives. Dean and Ryan Appleton, 37, volunteer for the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) as community first responders (CFR).
The pair began their journey with EEAST in 2013 when they established the CFR group in Clacton-on-Sea, but their dedication to helping the local community continued when they moved to Colchester two years later. During the coronavirus pandemic, they stepped up to provide vital assistance to patients during an unprecedented time of need.
CFRs are volunteers trained by the ambulance service to respond to specific types of medical emergencies. They often provide life-saving interventions and support before an ambulance arrives.
In 2020, Ryan moved to the Nayland CFR group in Suffolk. Dean remains in Essex but has moved to the Tiptree group. Since joining EEAST as volunteers in 2013, the pair have responded to thousands of 999 calls, providing immediate care and reassurance to patients.
The two men have been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year’s Honours for their voluntary service. They join several others with associations to Essex that have been given awards.
Dean Appleton said: “We started this journey because we wanted to help our community, and we’ve responded to thousands of patients over more than a decade of volunteering. This honour means so much to us, but it’s also a recognition of everyone who gives their time to support patients and save lives.”
“It’s an incredible honour to receive this recognition,” Ryan Appleton added. “Volunteering as a community first responder has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
“Knowing that we can make a difference in those critical moments is what drives us to keep going. The support we’ve had from team leaders and other volunteer responders at EEAST over the years has been phenomenal.”
Neill Moloney, EEAST chief executive officer, said: “On behalf of everyone at the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, I want to congratulate Ryan and Dean on their well-deserved honours for their extraordinary voluntary service. They are both testament to the commitment and dedication all our volunteers show each and every day, in communities across the east of England.”
If you are interested in becoming a CFR, or volunteering in another way for the ambulance service, click here.