A TEENAGER has today been praised for putting her life-saving skills learnt in the classroom into practice.

A TEENAGER has today been praised for putting her life-saving skills learnt in the classroom into practice.

Danielle Kennedy, a year 11 pupil from Copleston High School, was walking along St Helen's Street in Ipswich on her way to a school assignment when a man collapsed in front of her and banged his head on the pavement.

As he had an epileptic fit, she called for an ambulance, and then put him into the recovery position.

The 15-year-old learnt the vital first aid skills just a week before the incident during a health and social class at school.

Danielle said: “When I saw him collapse, I was shocked and a bit scared. I knew what I had to do.

“I had learnt about the recovery position the week before in health and social class but I never knew I would have to do it so soon afterwards.”

Her mum, Kym, 45, of Spring Road, Ipswich, said: “She was walking down the road on her way to the cinema for a business studies project when it happened.

“She is a good girl. She was quite shocked after it but it sounds as though she did everything right.

“I couldn't believe it when she told me what happened.”

David East, deputy head of Copleston High School, said: “We are really proud of her. She does a health and social class which taught about the recovery position but she probably wasn't expecting to do it.

“It was a responsibility for her and she had the confidence to go ahead with what she had learned. That is quite something. She has made a huge difference to someone's life.”

Were you the person she helped? Have you ever helped to save a person's life? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.