AN off duty student nurse has saved a man’s life after he collapsed by the side of a road.

Anica Gray was driving to coach lane campus at Northumbria University when she found the man unconscious.

She pulled over to rush to his aid and immediately started to implement life-saving techniques and knowledge she had learnt throughout her degree.

A team of firefighters from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were close by and called for police and paramedics whilst assisting Ms Gray.

She worked with the fire brigade to deliver the basic protocol for life support.

Together they were able to keep the man alive until paramedics arrived at the scene.

The paramedics took him to hospital to continue his care, and commended the student for the role she had played in helping to save the man’s life.

Ms Gray said: “I would not have been able to put my skills into practice without the knowledge I had gained from my course at Northumbria University.

"I was able to work alongside the fire and rescue service and as a team we were very calm and organised. I felt confident and proud with my work and involvement in saving the man’s life.”

As part of her adult nursing course, Ms Gray had recently been selected for placement in a critical care unit where she had practised these skills.

Professor Alison Machin, head of department for nursing, midwifery and health at Northumbria University, said: “We are very proud of Anica.

"As well as using her recently learned life-saving CPR skills, she acted in a highly professional manner, was calm under pressure and displayed excellent interprofessional team-working skills.

"I’m sure the future will hold great things for Anica when she graduates next year”.