ROOKIE paramedic Sam Nicholls' career has had a glowing start - she saved a life on only her second day in the job.The Ipswich-based student paramedic took a 999 call to a “male collapsed” and when she arrived was confronted with a man overdosed on heroin and not breathing.

ROOKIE paramedic Sam Nicholls' career has had a glowing start - she saved a life on only her second day in the job.

The Ipswich-based student paramedic took a 999 call to a “male collapsed” and when she arrived was confronted with a man overdosed on heroin and not breathing.

Miss Nicholls only had a day's experience behind her but proved her training's worth when she used an oxygen bag to start the patient's breathing again.

Miss Nicholls, 23, of Richmond Road, Ipswich, said: “We didn't really know what to expect but when we got there he collapsed on the pavement.

“He stopped breathing and I had to breathe for him, using an oxygen bag.

“I didn't really think about it only being my second day, I was just thinking about the patient and what I had to do.”

Also in the ambulance team were technician Julia Basford and Miss Nicholls' mentor, paramedic Stuart Cooper, who together gave the patient a drug to reverse the affects of heroin.

Mr Cooper is mentoring Miss Nicholls and is following her on her first five shifts after she has finished a three-month training course at Norwich.

He said: “Considering it was only Sam's second day on the road she handled the situation extremely professionally.

“It's very encouraging for the rest of her career.

“She saved the guy's life. Without her breathing for him he would have died.

“The man realised how lucky an escape he had and was really grateful.”

The heroin user had collapsed at Wherstead Road, at around 1.15pm on Thursday .

N Do you want to thank someone for saving your life? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk