A 75-year-old woman who collapsed in the middle of a shop has labelled the off-duty nurse who helped her as her “guardian angel”.

Lesley Saunders-Davies, from Totnes, was so grateful to the 22-year-old nurse that she tracked her down to the London hospital where she worked, so she could thank her.

Lesley, who had previously suffered a heart attack, blacked out while shopping before Christ­mas in WH Smith at Newton Abbot.

Newly qualified staff nurse Olivia Tompkins, back home for Christmas from London, immediately swung into action, placed Lesley into the recovery position and cared for her until an ambulance arrived.

Lesley, a retired college lecturer, was kept in Torbay Hospital overnight and is currently awaiting further tests to discover the cause of her sudden collapse.

She said: “Having had a heart attack a couple of years ago, this could have been the scariest episode in my life.

“My guardian angel certainly watched over me that morning – Olivia comforted me but also waited with me until the paramedics arrived – and did much to allay my fears.”

Keen to thank Olivia, Lesley added: “She disappeared before I had time to thank her.

“I had no idea of Olivia’s second name, but I remembered she had said she was a nurse at Royal Brompton, so I contacted the Patient Advice and Liaison Service in the hope they could help.”

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Lesley wrote in an email to the hospital: “If all nurses in your hospital are so generous with their time and care, I think you are so lucky. I hope you can trace her and let her know how much she helped.”

Lesley’s son, Tim Melia, 48, also of Totnes, said: “We feel so fortunate that, when mum collapsed, there was someone there who knew how to keep her safe and calm, and who was prepared to give up her free time to look after her until the ambulance arrived.

“That sort of dedication to the wellbeing of others from staff like Olivia is what makes the NHS such a great institution.”

And Lesley added: “Olivia may never know how much that meant to me – I will always remember her.”

Olivia, who has just graduated from her nursing degree at City University with first class honours, explained: “I was home for the holidays and I popped out to buy some last-minute Christmas cards.

“I noticed a lady on the floor by the tills, she was distressed and I knew I had to help. Staff and shoppers were trying to assist, but when I told them I was a nurse they asked me to stay.”

After introducing myself to her, I asked Lesley if she was okay, and helped put her into the recovery position.

“I noted she had a medical band which stated she had a myocardial infarction – heart attack – before, and found out more about her medical history. I was able to reassure her that she was being looked after.

“Lesley had her mobile with her, so I phoned one of her sons to let them know what was happening, and the ambulance arrived to take her to Torbay Hospital.”

Olivia added: “I wasn’t expecting Lesley to go these lengths to thank me at all! I was honoured to be in a position to help.

”Sometimes it’s incredible that what we as nurses regard as our jobs, means so much to others.”