A 999 telephone operator who gives life-saving instructions to callers used her own advice to save a life.

Sarah McHugh was taking a dip in a swimming pool when she sprang into action.

Miss McHugh, a resource dispatcher at the Sussex Ambulance control centre in Lewes, had just entered the water at Waders Swimming Pool in Shoreham on Tuesday.

She said: "I heard the manager talking on the phone saying that a lady was unconscious but breathing so I told him who I was and asked if I could help.

"He took me through to where the lady had collapsed. She was being looked after by a lifeguard.

"When I got to her she had no pulse and had stopped breathing.

"I have given telephone advice to people in this situation many times but this was the first time I'd actually had to resuscitate someone myself.

"I was a bit nervous but just got on with it. Thankfully, an ambulance arrived after about three minutes and the crew took over."

A 999 call had already been made to ambulance control and an ambulance and two paramedic officers were sent from nearby Shoreham.

They arrived minutes later and carried on resuscitation at the scene and as the woman, in her 70s, was being driven to Worthing Hospital. She was in a critical condition yesterday.

Miss McHugh has worked for the ambulance service since 2002.

Paramedic officer Caryll Overy, who attended, said: "Sarah being there and able to start resuscitation quickly undoubtedly helped the chances of this lady surviving. She did very well."