THE nurse who helped save a man’s life when he collapsed after a football match says she acted on instinct.

Kerry Lagden was returning from Southend United’s game against Oldham when she saw Dave Palmer, 67, on the floor.

Kerry, who works in the intensive care unit at Southend Hospital, initially thought he had fallen over.

But when she looked again she saw police officers, Sgt Chris Bramhall and PC Stu Francis, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The officers told earlier this week how grateful they were for the nurse’s assistance and appealed for her to come forward.

Mrs Lagden said: “I said to my husband ‘I feel like I should help’ and I did.

“I just said ‘I’m a nurse, do you want a hand?’ I know resuscitation can be quite tiring if you are waiting a long time.

“I helped the police and did the chest compressions.

“The first paramedic arrived and I assisted him, then the ambulance arrived with the crew.

“I kind of just walked away. I thought it was not really my place to stay as the ambulance crew were there.

“It was just lucky we happened to be there at the right time.

“I didn’t really think about it at the time. I was more concerned about how the man was.

“I phoned work later to see whether he had come to us.

“They didn’t know anything about it, so I assumed he must have passed away.”

Mr Palmer, a Blues’ fan since the age of seven, was taken to the specialist heart unit at Basildon Hospital, where he is recovering.

Mrs Lagden, 35, said she was surprised at the reaction the story received.

She said: “A friend called about the story and said the man was OK.

“I am just pleased he is recovering. That is the main thing.

“I am surprised at the response and the coverage. I thought it would go unnoticed.

“I was surprised when I heard people saying ‘you were the nurse in the newspaper’.”