A WOMAN who was rehabilitated in Farnham Hospital after breaking her hip has thanked a soldier whose Army first aid training helped save her life.

Petra Gray, 61, tripped over a loose paving stone in Farnborough’s Eastmead shopping precinct six weeks ago after visiting the Santander bank.

Guardsman Peter Gibbons, visiting a different bank in Eastmead with his partner while on his lunch break, heard her screaming in pain and rushed to help.

He said: “I was in my uniform so I was a bit hesitant at first, in case I became a target for abuse. But part of me said I can’t leave this lady, she’s in absolute agony.”

Correctly suspecting she had broken her hip, he advised she should not be moved before an ambulance arrived because of the risk that internal bleeding from the mass of blood vessels around the joint might kill her.

Peter said: “I pretty much saved her life, to be fair, which is a remarkable achievement for anybody. I’m grateful for what I’m taught at work because I can officially say I’ve put it into practice.”

Petra had to wait on the pavement for three-and-a-half hours for an ambulance because two others originally meant for her were diverted to emergencies.

Peter’s partner had to leave after a while to collect their children, but he stayed with Petra alongside fellow passer-by Rachel Carter from Farnborough.

Staff from Santander brought out an armchair for Petra to lean against and the security team at the neighbouring Kingsmead shopping centre erected plastic barriers around the area to protect her.

Eventually an ambulance took her to Frimley Park Hospital and she had surgery to repair the fracture the following day.

Petra said: “Frimley Park were brilliant with my surgery and a week later I was transferred to Bentley Ward at Farnham Hospital for rehabilitation and they were amazing – the doctors, physios, healthcare assistants, everybody.

“I thought I was going to be paralysed as I couldn’t move my right leg at all, but they’ve worked miracles.”

Petra’s daughter sent Rachel flowers to thank her, and Petra wanted to see Peter again.

After nearly six weeks of searching she asked her soldier son Harrison to help – he found him in six hours via an Army internet chat room.

Peter and his partner visited Petra in Bentley Ward last Thursday, two days before she went home to Mytchett.

Petra said: “When Peter and his lady came to visit me it was quite tearful and emotional.

“When you’ve got home-grown heroes like these it’s nice to thank them.”