A FIRST aider came to the rescue of a young Bolton rider who was knocked unconscious after being thrown from her horse.

Jane McQueen, 22, who had only just passed her work's first aid exam, sprang into action after 19-year-old Greta Howarth was catapulted head first onto a concrete pavement at a horse show in Thicketford Road, Breightmet.

A large crowd watched anxiously as the horse went out of control yesterday afternoon and threw Greta over its head on to the path.

Greta, of Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever, was unconscious for five minutes while frantic organisers called for an ambulance.

But Jane, of King Street, Bromley Cross, who was only at the show because her mum Penny Dickinson was a judge, took control of the situation by checking for broken bones and ensuring the injured rider was kept still. Greta, who was later allowed home after treatment at Royal Bolton Hospital for cuts and bruises to her face and shoulder, had a lucky escape.

Today paramedics and Mrs Dickinson praised the actions of Jane, who works for the Bolton branch of the National Westminster Bank.

Mrs Dickinson, of Cox Green Lane, Bromley Cross, told the BEN she had seen similar accidents lead to riders being paralysed.

"It was a good job Jane was about because she was a real star," she said. "People were standing around concerned, but didn't know what to do until she arrived."

But modest Jane today played down her role describing what she did as "nothing special".

"I just tried to remember what I had learned on the first aid course," she said. "Greta at first looked in a pretty bad way and I just did my best to comfort her. I'm certainly no hero."

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