An astrophysicist who always joked about how she could not prescribe aspirin despite being a doctor saved a man’s life two days after taking a first aid course.

Michelle Supper, of Drayton Road, Borehamwood, was in a restaurant in Reading with her husband and a friend when she spotted a man choking out of the corner of her eye.

Having recently completed a first aid course with St John’s Ambulance Service, her newfound skills were fresh in her mind.

The 34-year-old said: “I heard a noise behind me and I turned around and there was a man with his wife and young son, and he was choking.

“I looked around and the son looked scared and the wife didn’t know what to do. I didn’t even think about it, I just got up and hit him across the back.

“It took three goes but I eventually dislodged the piece of food trapped in his throat. They were very grateful – the man was slightly embarrassed, it was all very British.”

“If nobody had helped him, he would have choked.”

It was not until Dr Supper went back to her meal that she realised how lucky she was to have been in the right place at the right time, days after the course.

Unfortunately she did not take the name of the man she helped save and the pair have not kept in touch.

Dr Supper decided to learn first aid after her office manager, who was also their first aider, left the company so she volunteered to take the course.

She added: “It’s funny – my dad always makes fun of me and says I am a doctor but can’t even prescribe aspirin, so it was nice to be able to do a first aid course to add some credentials to that.

“I think it’s so important. It should be taught in schools – every child should know what to do. It’s something that’s so easy.

“It gave me the confidence to get up and intervene when I saw someone in distress, so I’d recommend it to everybody.”

To book a course call 08700 10 49 50 or visit www.sja.org.uk