QUICK-thinking Simon Mollan used his lifesaving skills for real - only three days before his first aid exam.

Simon, 31, of Hawthorne Spinney, Huntington, York, was walking along Bridge Street, in York, during a night out with friends when Steven Bingham, of Howden, near Goole, collided with a car.

He heard a bang and the taxi screech, and when he looked, he saw a man lying on the ground, clearly badly hurt.

He rushed over and resuscitated Steven, who had stopped breathing.

He also used his knowledge of first aid to put him in the recovery position, with the help of another passer-by.

Simon later passed his first-aid exam with flying colours.

Steven was still in a stable condition in York District Hospital today.

Simon's mum, Janet, said: "I'm very proud of him.

"He is the sort of person who likes to get stuck in."

Simon said: "I didn't expect to have to use what I had learned so soon. I would definitely recommend taking first aid to anyone."

"There was no one else there willing to get involved.

"I didn't do it to be a hero, I just happened to be there."

Simon's first aid tutor, John Hall, from Collingwood Avenue, Holgate, York, who runs the course at Canon Lee School, hailed him a "hero".

"Simon had practised the lifesaving technique several times during the course," he told the Evening Press.

"Now he's done it for real."

"He is a talented first-aider, and passed the exam with flying colours.

A spokesman for Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: "We're aware of a member of the public helping out with the injured man before we got there.

"We're always in favour of learning first aid skills."

Updated: 11:43 Monday, March 25, 2002