Fast-thinking city folk who raced to the side of a wounded man in Norwich have been applauded for their vital action.

A man fell in Rampant Horse Street on May 6 outside the former Debenhams store.

And those who witnessed the event immediately stepped into help, employing first aid skills to keep the patient calm and conscious.

%image(15608166, type="article-full", alt="Lio Marshall-Nichols rushed across Rampant Horse Street to help the man who had fallen.")

Lio Marshall-Nichols, 23, was the first to help the man and said: "I noticed people gesturing in that direction and then noticed a person had fallen so I rushed across the road to go and help him.

"I knelt down beside him and my first aid training kicked in. I observed any injuries.

"Then I kept talking to him to make sure he was still conscious, trying to keep him calm while I asked my friend to call an ambulance.

"I've not had to use my first aid training before but I was just doing what any good person would do.

"The man seemed thankful for the help he was getting but I was just doing what I could with the training I'd received."

%image(15608168, type="article-full", alt="Miriam Blyth, director of Mirbly, a health and safety training centre in Prince of Wales Road said first aid is: "An incredible skill to have."")

Miriam Blyth, who is the director of Mirbly, a health and safety training centre in Prince of Wales Road says the importance of first aid training "cannot be understated".

She said: "It's an incredible skill to have - especially with the ambulance services being so stretched recently.

"It should be mandatory across the board, from schools to workplaces.

"If someone can immediately help a patient it could help their chances considerably depending on what's happened.

"Even if the incident isn't life-threatening one thing we forget is the care for the patient.

"Just calming someone down, helping relieve stress and lowering their heart rate is a very important skill to have."

%image(15608170, type="article-full", alt="Matt Jones, who works as a security guard at Marks & Spencer, came to the scene to help the man in Rampant Horse Street.")

Matt Jones, who works as a security guard at Marks & Spencer nearby was also quick to help.

He said: "Someone came in asking for first aid assistance as someone had fallen.

"I grabbed a first aid kit and immediately headed out to try and help in any way I could. The main thing was keeping the patient calm.

"I'm pleased I could help in some way - it's why we are first aid trained."