QUICK-thinking youngsters helped save the life of a man who fell into a diabetic seizure outside a shop in a city retail park.

12-year-old Keira Bowes and her friends rushed to the assistance of a shopper who took ill outside of a shop at St Nicholas Gate Retail Park, ringing an ambulance, asking passers-by for help and running to the nearby Asda superstore to get a defibrillator.

The supermarket and one of the girls' parents have praised the children for their reactions to the emergency.

The incident happened on February 4 outside Poundland at St Nicholas Gate. The young group saw the man fall to the ground while uncontrollably convulsing.

The man in question was diabetic and forgot to take his medication that day - he asked the youths at the scene to ring an ambulance for him as he knew he was in trouble.

He gave Keira his medical card, then asked the children to please call the ambulance service for him, the call was made by youngster, Charlie MacAdam, also 12, who told the operator exactly what was happening.

Keira went into action and ran into the Asda close by to get a defibrillator to try and help the man as his breathing wasn’t stable. The children were asking Asda workers and passers-by for help.

Keira’s mum, Cairon Bowes, said: “They need rewarding for their bravery and common sense. These children attend Richard Rose Academy, and I know as mums we couldn’t be any prouder.

"Who knows what would have happened if they weren't there are the time."

After getting immediate help from the ambulance service for his diabetes, while still in a bad condition, the man gave Keira and her friends a thumbs-up as he was put into the back of the ambulance.

"There were a group of them that flew into action to help, all aged 12 to 13, Darcie Roberts, Patrick Boyce were also involved, they were flagging people down to help for help and directing the ambulance, so they knew exactly where to go."

A spokesperson for Asda said: “We helped in any way we could but it was the children that alerted us, and those that rang the ambulance.

"They did a great job under pressure and their parents should be very proud of the kids."

After making contact with the NHS, no information has been released about the man’s condition.