A CARER in Taunton turned heroic lifesaver after she found a suicidal man with a kitchen knife sticking in his chest has been honoured for her 'tremendous bravery'.

Ahlana Bisgrove’s training kicked in when she was faced with the blood-splattered man threatening to remove the knife in an attempt to kill himself.

She managed to calm the man down until police and paramedics arrived to take over.

“It was horrific, said Ahlana, aged 26, who was working for Way Ahead Care at Kilkenny Court extra care housing scheme, in Taunton.

“I was just thinking, ‘I’ve got to save this man’s life’.

“He was saying, ‘I want to die’ and trying to pull the knife out.

“I kept talking to him to keep him awake, kept him upright and held his hand to reassure him.”

Ahlana was first on the scene after her manager reported receiving a call from a tenant.

She added: “That’s all I knew. I didn't know he'd stabbed himself.

“I was first in the door and saw him slumped over the sink in his kitchen with the knife in his chest.

“I’ve never seen anything like it before and I had nightmares for at least a week after.

“I was in shock and I went home crying my eyes out, but my fiancé and the rest of my family and everyone at Way Ahead have been so supportive.

“I’m so pleased with myself. In that situation you just instinctively know what to do and the adrenalin kicks in.”

Her colleague Alice Hartland arrived in the room soon after and helped Ahlana keep the man calm.

The two met last week with Taunton Deane Mayor Cllr Marcia Hill, who congratulated them on their “tremendous bravery”.

The man was stabilised by paramedics before being taken by ambulance to Taunton Musgrove Park Hospital, where he underwent surgery. He has since made a full recovery following the incident earlier in the summer.

*If you have been affected by this story, contact the local Samaritans at 16 Wood Street, Taunton, phone 01823-288998 or bereaved@mindtws.org.uk, phone 0300-3305463.