Originally published 28 April 2004

The University of Warwick’s first medical students have yet to graduate but they already have saved a life. Sally Edwards from Barwell near Hinckley, and Anna Joseph from Newport in Wales were leaving Warwick hospital at 4pm on Monday 19th April when they encountered the wife of Whitnash man Mathew O'Connor. She asked them to help her husband who had collapsed in the hospital car park.

Note for editors: I have mobile numbers for the students but because they are working and studying on medical wards their phones are only on for short periods throughout the day. If you want to reach either of them contact the press office and we will put them in contact with you. I also have a contact number for the patient for obvious confidentiality reasons we will get him to contact anyone who is interested.

They immediately put their medical training into action and gave him basic life support including chest compressions until an ambulance arrived – essentially saving his life. Mr O’Connor was then taken to Warwick Hospital’s Coronary Care Unit.

The two medical students are in the final year of their studies at Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick, they had just come to the end of a placement a Warwick Hospital.

They will graduate from their course – the first ever medical students to graduate as trainee doctors from the University of Warwick and the Leicester Warwick Medical School - in July.