A journalism student has overcome a brush with death to gain her first job in the industry.

Armed with bags of enthusiasm and excitement to kick-start a career in newspapers, Katie Hopkins, 23, enrolled on a fast-track Diploma in Journalism course at Brighton Journalist Works in January.

However nine weeks into the course above The Argus offices in Crowhurst Road, Brighton, she had a stroke.

Katie said: “I went into hospital and soon realised I would not be returning to Journalist Works any time soon.

“After undergoing what felt like every test imaginable, I was discharged from hospital but remained a medical mystery.

“Everyone at Brighton Journalist Works was hugely supportive and after a few months recovery time I was able to tag on to the next course, which started in April, and go back to relentlessly practising shorthand.”

Despite the setback, Katie achieved her National Council for the Training of Journalists qualification in July and bagged herself her dream job at The Argus’ parent company Newsquest, in Newport, South Wales, just weeks later.

She added: “It was a huge relief to manage to finish my qualification and so exciting to get gold standard grades after working on it for such a long time.

“I am thrilled to be able to say I have got an ideal job as a sub-editor because of this course.”

Paula O’Shea, of Brighton Journalist Works, said: “Katie has triumphed over what could have been a tragedy to not only gain a gold standard in her NCTJ Diploma in Journalism, which is difficult enough, but has also landed a job just weeks after gaining her qualification.

“She has proved herself to be an exceptional student and deserves to have a bright future ahead.”

Statistics from the Stroke Association reveal just 62 women 91 men under the age of 35 suffered a stroke last year.

In about a third of them, the cause could not be identified.