An off-duty St John Ambulance volunteer who gave vital treatment to casualties seriously injured in a road accident has been praised by the London Ambulance Service.

Mark Hunter, 36, was on his way home from work on June 26 when he came across a collision between a bus, car and lamppost in Harold Hill.

Police were on hand but an ambulance was still on its way so Mark, from Noak Hil, began to administer emergency first aid to the two most seriously injured casualties.

He said: “The police officer was happy for me to help with the car passenger who had serious injuries and was bleeding quite badly from his eye. Suspecting a spinal injury, I held his head still while the officer attended to his eye.”

When paramedic Mark Heinsen arrived he was relieved to see Mark Hunter already in control of the situation. The two men work together in the community first responder (CFR) scheme which is a partnership between St John Ambulance and the ambulance service.

CFRs are local volunteers trained to respond from their own homes to 999 calls and provide first aid and care until the ambulance arrives.

Both Marks treated the injured passenger while fire-fighters cut him free by removing the roof of the wrecked vehicle.

Mark also attended the driver of the car, holding his neck still until a neck collar arrived.

He then treated one of the bus passengers for shock by laying her down and raising her legs - the standard first aid treatment for shock.

Mark Heinsen said: “This was a very frightening situation for all those who witnessed it but Mark was calm and professional throughout, putting his first aid skills into practice in a potentially life threatening emergency. Things could have been a lot worse without his intervention.”

For more information about becoming a volunteer email: cfr@london.sja.org.uk