A WOMAN is recovering after her head was split open by a large wooden rocking horse that was hurled from a second-floor window.

Tracey Blackstone, 52, from Scarborough, was on holiday in Dublin when she suffered the four-inch cut to the head, and was rescued by a passing football fan who wrapped his Scotland shirt around her head to stop the bleeding.

She collapsed with blood pouring from the wound as she was celebrating a friend's birthday in the Irish capital.

Craig MacDougall, a trained lifeguard and Scotland fan, assisted Ms Blackstone at the scene.

Paramedics and police, who are now hunting the suspect who threw the toy, have hailed his quick-thinking and first aid efforts.

Mr MacDougall said: “I saw the rocking horse fly out of a window and the next minute Tracey just fell back.

"I didn't even think, I just took my shirt off and wrapped it round her head and shouted to the Garda to get an ambulance."

Ms Blackstone described Mr MacDougall as a "hero".

"I'm very lucky that he was there," she said.