Olive Showler, 82, fell near some trees, not far from her home in Chester-le-Street, at around 5pm on Wednesday, December 19.

The grandmother-of-three suffered a dislocated shoulder and may have been in danger of developing hypothermia.

Mrs Showler said: “There is an area of grass and I thought it would be quicker that way.

“I thought I would take a short cut but the grass was wet as it had been raining.

“My feet just gave way and I slipped. I could not stop myself. I could not get up at all. I knew I had to get help. I was in a bad place.

“I was saying ‘please can you help me’ but nobody came.

“I was there an hour-and-a-half. I thought ‘I am never going to get out of this’.

“It was very dark and in a wood so I thought I was going to be there all night.

“It was a very traumatic time. But then this little girl came passed and she heard me. She asked what was wrong and I told her I could not get up.”

Nineteen-year-old Leah Bailey was between visits working as a carer when she heard Mrs Showler’s pleas for help.

She went over to her and called for an ambulance and her mother, getting blankets to keep her warm until help arrived.

Miss Bailey said: “At first I was nervous to go over. I thought someone was playing a prank, so I shouted over at first.

“I could tell she was a bit worried so I walked over to her. I rang her family to let them know what had happened.

“I was at work but I waited two hours with her. I ran to the nearest house to get a glass of water for her and we got blankets and hot water bottles to keep her warm.”

Mrs Showler spent four days in the University Hospital of North Durham but was home in time for Christmas.

She said: “She saved my life. She was my guardian angel. It could have been much worse. Luckily there is a happy ending.”

To show their gratitude, her family gave the teenager, a student at New College Durham, a card with some money so she could treat herself in the Boxing Day sales.

Miss Bailey, who is planning to train as a primary school teacher at university in September, said: “I didn’t really think anything of it but the family have been extremely grateful and they gave me a nice 'thank you' card.

“They have been messaging with updates. It has been quite overwhelming.

“I just did what anyone would do.”