STUDENT Amy Campell-Golding has been presented with a baravery award for helping to save the lives of a boatload of drowning people in India.

Miss Campell-Golding, 21, of The Green, Calne, was relaxing with friends on a beach in Tamil Nadu, in Southern India, three years ago when a boat containing 30 Indian tourists, many who whom were non-swimmers, capsized in the surf.

Her three friends battled against strong currents to bring them back to the shore where Miss Campell-Golding, who is not a strong swimmer, began to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

A crowd of locals gathered around Miss Campell-Golding, who was teaching in India on a gap-year before university, but they were unable to help her because they did not know basic first aid. The group was not able to save everyone and three people died

Miss Campell-Golding, who is studying history of art at Edinburgh University, said: "At the time we didn't really register what was happening we just got on with it. It was only much later when we got back to England that what happened really sunk in.

"I feel a little embarrassed about receiving the award because we weren't able to save everyone. We did the best we could but none of them had to die.

"We don't realise how fortunate we are in this country that we're taught basic first aid in the curriculum at school.

"If they did that in India all those people could have survived.

"When you're at school you often don't realise how important first aid is and it's difficult to visualise a time when you might need to use it. But it's such an important skill and really can save people's lives."

The group were each presented with an award from the Royal Humane Society by Wiltshire High Sheriff Sir Christopher Bland.