A STUDENT battled to save the life of a 77-year-old man severely injured in a car crash just a day after she attended a first aid course.

Jane Temple, 34, tried desperately to help William Robinson after he was hit by a BMW car on the A19, near Middlesbrough.

He suffered pelvic fractures and leg and chest injuries after the accident on April 7 and died in hospital.

Mrs Temple, from Stockton, had learnt life-saving skills on a training course at Darlington College of Technology the previous day, including how to cope with a bus crash and multiple injuries.

She said: "It's quite spooky that the following day I should be there when an accident occurred.

"It took about a minute to realise it was serious then the training kicked in."

Police believe Mr Robinson, a pigeon fancier, of Thornley, near Easington, east Durham, was hit after he got out of his car in the middle lane and was trying to pick up bird baskets which had fallen from the back of a trailer.

Mrs Temple, who studies sport at the college, saw the accident and stopped to help, checking Mr Robinson's airways and pulse, putting him in the recovery position and instructing others to put a bandage on his leg.

She also helped a firefighter deal with the driver of Mr Robinson's car, an elderly man who was suffering from shock.

Mrs Temple said: "It turned out he had suffered a heart attack a few months earlier, so it was important to look after him as well.

"He was very quiet and started shaking so we kept him warm and talked to him, making sure he couldn't see the accident scene. It was a nightmare."

Inspector Eric Robinson, head of Cleveland Police's road policing unit, praised Mrs Temple's efforts.

He said: "Although the man suffered severe injuries and later died, the actions of Jane are a credit to her and her training.

"She was confronted with a traumatic scene, but didn't hesitate in giving immediate first aid in a bid to save the man's life."

Sue Campbell, director of external relations at the college, said: "We are very proud that one of our students was able to use her new-found expertise in such a positive way and that we equipped her to make a difference in such terrible circumstances."