IT WAS far from a normal drive home after a night with the army cadets for this Southampton schoolgirl.

Charlotte McGuinness was thrown into the hot seat after she spotted a man stumbling along the high street covered in blood on her way home from a first aid class with the cadets.

The 15-year-old from Maybush was with her mum driving along Romsey Road at around 9.45pm when she spotted the man and thought something looked wrong.

She then realised he was covered in blood and shouted at her mum to pull over and ran to his aid.

Charlotte spent an hour with the man, who had serious injuries to his head and wrist and thanks to her training Charlotte was able to keep him conscious until the ambulance crew arrived.

Now the year 10 pupil at Oasis Academy Mayfield has been applauded by her cadet crew and thanked by paramedics.

Since the incident on October 5, Charlotte, who is in the 7 Troop Millbrook, has been presented by the OC at the Army Cadets with a commendation, a letter from South Central Ambulance Service and also promoted from Lance Bombardier to Bombardier.

Charlotte said: “It’s amazing, I didn’t really expect to be given recognition for it, I was just doing what I had to. I couldn’t just leave him there.

“It was all very quick but I just didn’t really think about it, my training just came back to me and I acted, I’m really proud of how I responded. I would love to know what happened to the man and know that he is okay.”

Charlotte has had around 15 hours of first aid training and absolutely loves being with the cadets – but she has set her sights on becoming a criminal barrister.

Her mum, Claire Shaw added: “It was just amazing, she was so calm and collected. At one point he seemed to get aggressive and she actually protected me – I was stunned by how quickly she reacted.”

Paramedic Keith Packwood said: “I was really impressed by Charlotte’s actions bravely stopping, assisting the gentleman, knowing exactly what to do to provide early first aid and reassurance meant I could start treatment for the patient as soon as I arrived."

“She remained calm and helpful throughout and she was able to tell me exactly what had happened and how she had helped the patient so far.”