A CUSTOMER service advisor has been given a top safety award after saving a woman’s life.

Cristina Lourenco, 28, from Braintree, won a National Express driving out harm award after she intervened when she saw a woman lying on the ground having a fit in a queue at Stansted Airport.

Despite only having been in her job with National Express for a few months, Miss Lorenco didn’t hesitate when she noticed the woman had turned purple indicating she was becoming deprived of oxygen.

The quick-thinking hero put the stricken woman in the recovery position and cleared her airway which had become blocked so that she could breathe again.

Miss Lourenco said: “It was a really hot day, I had been training a new recruit who suddenly screamed for me to go to the queue because a lady was lying down.

“I saw that she had turned purple and wasn’t moving and her family said she’d had an epileptic fit.

“She’d swallowed her tongue and I had to prise her mouth open to clear the airway so she could start breathing. I then looked after her until the paramedics arrived.”

Miss Lourenco also speaks fluent Spanish, so she was able to talk to the woman and her family in their own language during the incident.

Once the lady started to regain consciousness, Miss Lorenco reassured the lady and spoke to her family who were with her.

Paramedics who attended the scene commended her, saying her actions had certainly saved the woman’s life.

Her manager James Third said: “Talk about going above and beyond in the name of duty.

“Cristina was outstandingly brave that afternoon - she did not hesitate to help the lady who was in desperate need and acted coolly and calmly to save the situation and I’m immensely proud of her.”

Having previously held a job transporting disabled people through the airport, and being first aid trained, Cristina is experienced in administering first aid to people, so she knew exactly what to do in the situation.

Miss Lourenco has now been recognised with a National Express Coach driving out harm award and given a £1,000 cheque as prize money.

She has now been selected as a finalist in the company’s international award scheme which takes place April 27.

Miss Lourenco will join National Express colleagues from all over the world at a gala evening in London.