A University of Sunderland trainee paramedic has been praised after saving the life of a North East man who had a cardiac arrest in a supermarket.

Stacey Thain, who began her training in May, was shopping with her family in Blyth when the incident occurred.

The 33-year-old described how she went into "auto-pilot" after seeing the man collapse.

Upon realising the severity of the situation as he turned blue in the face, she knew her training could be put to use.

Using a defibrillator from an in-store first aider and performing CPR until the arrival of an ambulance, she worked to revive the man.

Associate head of school for nursing and health studies, Mark Willis, said: "The University is very proud of Stacey in her immediate actions that no doubt directly saved the life of the patient, and this is testament to her commitment, dedication, professionalism and clinical standards that she has learned throughout her studies to date."

(Image: University of Sunderland)

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After the incident, she was able to contact the man who had regained consciousness and wanted to thank her.

"He held my hand and asked my name. The paramedic told me if I had not been there, it would’ve been a different outcome – that I saved the man’s life," Ms Thain said.

“I know I am doing what I am supposed to do.

“I know I can handle a stressful real-life situation, putting every lesson I’ve been taught so far into action. It still hasn’t sunk in that I am the reason he is alive.”

The man was taken to the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington following the incident.

Bethany Hackers, a health advisor at the North East Ambulance Service, said: "In these types of calls, it is always nerve-racking because someone’s life is immediately in danger.

"However, I did feel relieved that the student paramedic was there, and she very quickly put the intervention in place."