Shrewley nurse helps save cyclist's life after accident - and inspires woman to go into medical career

A nurse who lives in Shrewley, near Warwick, helped save a cyclist's life after an accident and by doing so inspired someone to look into a medical career.

Sue Gilroy, who likes to be known as Soo, is an assistant practitioner with Alcester district nurses.

She was on her way home from her shift on April 24 when she came across an accident in Tanworth-in-Arden involving a cyclist and a car.

Soo said: "I was first on the scene so I stopped my car and blocked the road. I got my gloves on and my face mask that I have for work because it looked pretty bad.

"Another person called Matthew also arrived and started taking over organising the ambulance and police. I started trying to work out how bad this guy was - which was pretty bad.

"Another person - Donna Cleaver - also turned up and assisted.

"We were told on the phone after they listened to his breathing that we needed to start chest compressions so I did. When the ambulance arrived I continued while they got the defibrillator ready. I stopped after they told me they had a pulse."

Soo was assisted by both Matthew and Donna during the incident and it was Soo's quick actions that inspired Donna to look into a career in the medical profession.

Soo said: "Donna was so calm and she had a little medical experience. She was amazing and a calm influence. Matthew was also wonderful.

"She told me that seeing what I did has inspired her.

"Donna, who is 50, said it was always something she wanted to do and I told her to go do it as I was 52 when I started my qualifications and I am 56 now. I told her 'don't let anything stand in your way'.

"If I have made a difference in her life that would be amazing."

Soo, who has also previously worked for the Leamington South district nurses team, added: "We have such a supportive team and we are all doing our best. I love my job and the community. I have been offered PTS support from work but I don't think I will need it."

Donna, who lives in Henley-in-Arden and is a teaching assistant at a special education needs school, said: "To see Soo just being able to step up and do what needed to be done but also knowing I had some knowledge and being cool and calm was something that was quite different to behold.

"Matthew and I also had first aid training so Soo could do the chest compressions knowing she had two people who could take over.

"Soo did what she needed to do then as a team we all naturally did what was needed to assist. It was saving a man's life - it doesn't get much bigger than that.

"It was an amazing moment of human nature and an epiphany moment for me.

"I always had an interest in all things medical but I have never really known what it meant until that moment in time.

"I am going to start making more enquiries into how to start on the journey into a medical career but I will also have to weigh up a lot of pros and cons.

"It is all very early days but I feel drawn towards a different path now."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident between a cyclist and a Ford Mondeo at 3.07pm on April 24 at the crossroads where the B4101 Broad Lane meets Tythe Barn Lane, Tanworth-in-Arden.

The cyclist, a man in his 70’s from Solihull, was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. He is currently in a critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit.