Brave Elaine Harden is back at work after a horrific road accident in which she was trapped in her car and rescued by a colleague.

During her ordeal, she was comforted by a stranger who stopped her slipping into unconsciousness and used first aid skills to keep her alive.

Her life saver was Mick Edwards, who she quickly discovered worked for Seeboard - the same company as her.

Now Elaine, 29, has returned to work part-time and has been able to thank her good Samaritan.

She said: "I remember being thrown right forward, hitting my head on the windscreen and being flung back.

"Apart from the shock of it all, the next thing I remember is the terrific pain down my back, neck and shoulders and in my hips.

"I then realised my feet were trapped and started to panic. That's when this man, Mick, came over wearing a Seeboard jumper.

"I told him I worked for Seeboard too and he started chatting and talking to me to try to put me at ease."

Mick administered first aid to Elaine when she suffered a fit and swallowed her tongue.

Elaine said: "I was in a lot of pain and was very scared. My legs were going numb and I told him I was worried I wouldn't be able to walk again.

"But he kept reassuring me everything was going to be okay.

"Throughout it all, he was my rock. It was a really horrible situation but I know I would have been a lot worse without him."

"I'd never seen him before in my life but I can't thank him enough for what he did for me that day."

Elaine spent several days in hospital after the accident with an empty bus at the junction of Bush Farm Drive and Fox Way in Portslade.

She is still recovering from the physical and mental scars.

Elaine, a customer services agent in Portland Road, Hove, was driving to pick up a friend for work when she was involved in the crash.

She is still being treated for back and neck problems caused by severe whiplash. She also damaged a kidney.

Mick, an enhanced craftsman, has worked for Seeboard for 26 years.

He said: "Although I didn't see the crash, I was one of the first to see the results. I realised nobody was looking after Elaine, so went over to see what I could do.

"It's quite a long time since I did my first aid but I've used it a few times over the years.

"It was obvious she was in pain and discomfort and was very scared so I was trying to calm her down.

"When she had her fit, I pulled her tongue from her mouth. Luckily I'm okay with that kind of thing.

"I didn't realise she worked for Seeboard when I stopped to help but it certainly gave us something to talk about while we waited for the ambulance crew to arrive."