A BRAVE bus driver has been praised by her bosses after she helped a teenager who had been stabbed.

Amy Howells rushed to give the injured youth first aid when she saw a vicious attack happen outside her bus in Eldene in August last year.

For her lifesaving efforts, she has been named Swindon's Bus Company's employee of the year and given the same honour by its parent operator Go South Coast.

She said: “I ran over to the lad, who was on the floor bleeding. The priority was to keep him alive until the medical help could get there.

"I never expected all this recognition but I’m delighted with this award from Swindon’s Bus Company.”

She joined the company in 2018 and had first aid and medical training from a previous job as a carer.

Managing director Andrew Wickham presented her with the awards at an annual ceremony.

He said: “This horrifying incident took place while Amy was driving her bus.

"When others might have justifiably stayed within the relative safety of their cab, Amy took it upon herself to leave her vehicle and run to the aid of the injured youth, while the assailants were still in the vicinity.

"Amy went beyond what could be reasonably expected of her, and she is an absolute credit to our company."

Her brave and selfless actions were officially recognised by Wiltshire Police.

In May she was presented with the Chief Constable's Award after she was nominated by South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland.

Speaking to the Adver at the time, she said: "It was utter disbelief as to what was going on, everybody was in slow motion and running away.

“But I could hear some screams as I had witnessed the whole attack to the point where from my bus, I could see them attacking with the machete.

"I ran over to the lad who was on the floor bleeding out and between me and one of the guys from the gym, our priority was to keep him alive until the medical help could get there.

“I’ve never seen someone hacked out like that, I’ll never forget the screams."

An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were detained on suspicion of attempted murder, while a 19-year-old woman and a 48-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.