A schoolgirl has been hailed a heroine after her quick-thinking actions saved a pensioner's life.

Rosie Reay, 16, of Wilsden, was on a bus on her way to her part-time job when she spotted an elderly man collapse at a bus stop.

Without thinking twice, the Bingley Grammar School pupil halted the bus she was travelling on and asked the driver to wait while she put her newly-acquired first aid skills in to practice.

Rosie has recently attended a first aider course at the youth club she attends in Wilsden, and was told by paramedics that she had saved the life of the man she leapt off the bus to help.

She said: "I did not have time to think about it, I just saw him on the floor and knew I had to help him. The first thing I did was to put my cheek to his mouth to check if he was breathing as the cheek is the most sensitive area.

"He was breathing, so I put him in the recovery position, which was a good thing to do as his tongue was lolling to the side, which meant he had no control of his muscles and could have choked on his tongue.

"He had gone in to shock as he was very pale, cold and clammy and I gave my phone to a woman who had got off the bus and asked her to call an ambulance."

Rosie ended up instructing the ambulance service herself as the woman was struggling to give an accurate picture of the situation.

Rosie noticed the man had a wrist band on which indicated he had recently been in hospital and the operator was able to tell her he was an Alzheimers sufferer.

The patient was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary where he was given treatment.

Brave Rosie then promptly got back on the bus in Allerton Road, Allerton to get to her part-time job at T K Maxx in Bradford, where the reality of the situation finally hit her.

She said: "I was shaking like a leaf. I told everyone at work and so they said they would forgive me for being late for work."

Modest Rosie added: "I was just at the right place at the right time. I didn't really think anything about it until my leader at Wilsden Youth Club, Tony Kulikovsky, said Are you daft? Have you not realised what you have done? You have saved someone's life'. I hadn't even realised."

A few days after the incident last month, Rosie received a phone call from Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) praising her quick response and was told if it were not for her speedy actions, the man would have died. The man's daughter also expressed her gratitude to Rosie.

John Darley, operations director for YAS, said: "Rosie's actions were extremely brave. To get off a bus and help someone who has collapsed in the street deserves praise.

"Her ability to have kept a cool head when faced with this daunting situation is commendable and greatly helped the patient. By taking a first aid course, like Rosie did, you could save someone's life."

Rosie learnt her life-saving skills undertaking a St John Ambulance Young Lifesaver first aid course at Wilsden Youth Club, which she now also helps to teach voluntarily.

The course is funded by Bradford Council.

Senior manager for Bradford Council's Youth Service, Graham Walker, said: "I am humbled by Rosie's confidence and courage and it is a glorious example of the provision having a positive outcome."