An Ipswich student has joined forces with her former teacher to help save lives in Suffolk.
Cassidy Beeton, 18, was encouraged by her public services lecturer, Will Burl, to volunteer as a Community First Responder (CFR) alongside her studies at Suffolk New College.
CFRs are trained volunteers who attend emergency calls in their area, supporting the East Anglian Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
They dedicate at least 20 hours per month and are frequently dispatched to assist with 999 calls.
Ms Beeton took on the challenge, completing three weekends of training and passing her CFR assessment last year.
She began her first shift alongside her former tutor on Christmas Eve.
"More recently, we’ve been to call-outs when people have had strokes and cardiac events.
"The experience has given me skills and knowledge and I think it will give me the upper hand when I hopefully fulfil my dream of becoming a paramedic and working with an air ambulance crew."
She added: "It’s also great to work with a familiar face in Will. We are a good team.
"It’s great to volunteer and help people living in Suffolk."
The pair have worked together on numerous occasions, attending various incidents and indirectly saving lives.
Mr Burl, a former RAF member who now mentors Cassidy, said: "Cassidy was probably our most enthusiastic student in that particular year group - it was always her desire to go into paramedic sciences - that was unwavering.
"Cassidy has dealt with every situation exceptionally well and she has a bright future ahead of her."
