ST JOHN ambulanceman Mike Howarth was called into action in the middle of a training session after an accident outside the ambulance headquarters in Darwen.

The first aid trainer had to drop everything and attend to a woman who had been in a collision with a car on George Street.

Mike, 45, took one of his students with him as he went to the scene of the accident.

He said: “The young lady had been hit by a car and had a number of cuts and grazes and said it hurt her to breathe.

“A bystander suggested we put her on to her back but, by chance, she had landed in an almost perfect recovery position so I advised that it was best not to move her. An ambulance had been called and the young lady was asking for her mum so another bystander made that call for her.

“People were keen to help but it was clear that some people just didn’t really know what to do.

“It was a very timely reminder to those on the course that first aid skills can literally be the difference between a life lost and a life saved and you just never know when you might need them.

“Learning on a First Aid at Work course doesn’t mean you leave those skills behind at work. They’re with you when you’re out and about with friends and family too.”

Mr Howarth stayed with the accident victim until paramedics took her to hospital.

The interrupted training course was the first being run by St John Ambulance from its Darwen base.

The organisation is now offering workplace training and courses available include emergency first aid at work and defibrillator training and fire marshal.

Andrew Moon, regional training manager, said: “The incident that our trainer Mike was called to deal with really does highlight the fact that first aid skills are vital in our workplaces and communities.

“This training venue is in a great location, close to the motorway network and nearby Blackburn, which we hope will appeal to local firms in the area.”