When aspiring paramedic Ethan ordered three resuscitation manikins so he could teach CPR to others, he had no idea how quickly he would put his training into practice and help save a life.

Just two weeks after the dummies arrived at his home in Mansfield Woodhouse, in Nottinghamshire, the 15-year-old found himself performing CPR on a man he found collapsed in the street.

Ethan, who had completed a one-off CPR course with East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) last year, said he went through "a million and one emotions" as he realised he was about to apply his knowledge to a real-life emergency.

"It was adrenaline like never before, but I knew I had to stay calm, and not think too hard about the immense pressure of putting someone's life in your hands," he added.

The teenager was on his way home from a casual gardening job at about 14:30 BST on 18 September when he saw a 75-year-old man slumped over "half in the road and half on the pavement" on Ley Lane.

Ethan described the man as being unresponsive with a "raspy-sort of breathing" known as agonal breathing, and he was in cardiac arrest.

Having completed his course with EMAS, and watching countless TV programmes about front-line emergency workers, Ethan's training kicked in.

Ethan, a Year 10 pupil at The Manor Academy, said a lady who was on the phone to 999 was happy for him to take control as she did not know how to do chest compressions.

Together, they moved the man to a safe, flat surface, where Ethan knew the CPR would be more effective.

He said: "Even though I've spent ages preparing for this moment, to put it into practice was completely different."

Ethan was soon joined at the scene by an off-duty carer from King's Mill Hospital and a teacher from a nearby primary school who took turns with the compressions.

He said it was a "massive sense of relief" when the paramedics arrived and prepared a defibrillator, and he felt a sense of hope once he saw the man had a "shockable rhythm".

According to Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK), an expert organisation on resuscitation, survival rates for cardiac arrests outside hospital "remain low", with one in 13 people surviving in the East Midlands.

The organisation said the statistic highlighted a need to improve confidence in CPR and using defibrillators in the region.

Ethan told the BBC he was thrilled to hear from the man's family that he was making a steady recovery.

The man who Ethan helped wishes to remain anonymous while he continues his recovery but his daughter, Erica, said: "As a family, we are so grateful for the bravery that Ethan showed and our gratitude for assisting saving his life.

"If it wasn't for Ethan and other passing public, there would have been a very different outcome.

"It is incredibly important that people know at least the basics of life-saving and we support Ethan totally on his journey [to becoming a paramedic] and will help where we can."

Ethan became interested in learning basic life-saving skills from the age of 11 while helping to care for his grandparents.

He bought the £60 resuscitation manikins with the aim of running free life-saving sessions, particularly for young people, and has already led training at local scout groups.

He believes young people are reluctant to learn CPR because they feel awkward about "putting their hands on someone else".

He said: "There needs to be awareness that people performing CPR are protected by the Sarah Act."

The Sarah Act is also known as the the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015, which is designed to protect people who help others or intervene in emergencies.

Robert Gladwin, head teacher of The Manor Academy, said he would now look at investing some money to help more pupils learn life-saving skills.

He added: "Quite often young people get a bad reputation but, actually, this shows we generate students who have a real community value.

"It is absolutely critical that a Year 10 boy took charge of a situation that most people wouldn't know what to do with, and actually made a difference to the family and the wider community."

Jay Astles, clinical improvement manager for out of hospital cardiac arrest at EMAS, praised "Ethan for stepping forward to help in what must have been a very stressful situation".

He added: "We would encourage people of all ages to learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

"As Ethan's experience shows, having the confidence to act in an emergency could help save a life".

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