Quick-thinking Kirsty saves road-crash victim

RIGHT place, right time: lifeguard Kirsty Fraser

A TEENAGE lifeguard has been dubbed an “Earth angel” for helping an accident victim.

Quick-thinking passer-by Kirsty Fraser (19) sprang into action when epileptic Stephen Jones (55) was flung from his wife’s grasp at a zebra crossing by a car in Chadderton.

The Oldham College student of Raymond Averue, Chadderton — who works as a lifeguard at Chadderton Wellbeing Centre and Royton Sports Centre — saw Stephen had a head injury and possible spinal damage.

Kirsty’s care for him in the eight minutes until emergency services arrived was described as “vital”. His injuries could have been far worse if not for her rapid action.

“As soon as I looked at him I saw blood from his head and mouth and he kept trying to get up,” said Kirsty.

“I told him not to get up because in your mind you are thinking you don’t know what the full injuries are and he may have hurt his spine. I was also told he had epilepsy and I didn’t want him to go into shock.”

Kirsty, a qualified lifeguard for three years, talked to Stephen, who was drifting in and out of consciousness, to keep him alert.

She checked for pain in his back and kept his head still until emergency services arrived.

Her mum Gaynor added: “The paramedic got Kirsty to assist when he arrived, which shows the confidence he had in her. She was in the right place at the right time for someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Kirsty, whose father was a lifeguard and sister is one, added: “I am just grateful Stephen is OK and that I could use my training to help him.”

Oldham nurse Tamara Greaves, who saw the incident as Kirsty worked, said: “Kirsty was brilliant. It’s not easy to recall training in an emergency, but Kirsty did and she looked confident, despite the fact that she was probably shocked to the core.

“It’s the kind of thing you get taught in a classroom, but don’t often have to do it in real life.”

Walter Jones, Stephen’s brother, said: “We would like to extend our deepest thanks to Kirsty.”