A BROMYARD teenager used her first aid training to go to the rescue of a fellow pupil who fell ill at school.

Catherine Elton-Wall, aged 16, was recently awarded a Young First Aider of the Year certificate by the St John Ambulance Brigade.

Catherine, who has been a member of the Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Force for two years, kept her cool when a friend at the Queen Elizabeth Humanities College collapsed in the school lavatory in January.

The girl had fainted, but Catherine managed to catch her before she hit the floor and put her in the recovery position while an ambulance was called.

She stayed with the girl until she was taken to hospital where she stayed overnight.

Catherine said: “When it first happened I was shaken up as I’ve never had to deal with any incident in real life before, but I just knew what to do and got on with it.

“Everyone is proud of me and I am proud of myself, although it was nerve-wracking collecting the award in front of so many people.

“I love being a cadet. I’ve always been involved with something, whether it’s Brownies or Scouts, and I still have a lot to learn.”

Catherine, who was nominated for the award by her detachment commander Captain Richard Westlake, hopes to study at Hereford Sixth Form College and later train as a vet.