A GREAT-grandmother who helped a man after he collapsed at the wheel of a car has been nominated for a Community Pride Award.

Wendy Bryant, 73, of Melwood Grove, Acomb, has been nominated by her sister Vera Molloy.

She has been put forward in the Good Neighbour of the Year category in recognition of her efforts to help her neighbours.

Mrs Bryant, known to family and friends as Wyn, once helped a man, who turned out to be a friend of a friend, after he had stopped breathing at the wheel of his car. It happened at the junction of Burton Stone Lane and Crichton Avenue in York.

She says she was driving someone home when she noticed a car had stopped.

She pulled the man out of the car and took it in turns to perform CPR with two passers-by until paramedics arrived. He was taken to hospital, and later made a recovery.

Mrs Bryant said: “It was quite traumatic.

“I didn’t notice him breathing. There was no pulse while we were working on him.”

She added: “He was put on a life support machine.

“The next day I rang my friend and she said he was responding. It was like a miracle.”

Mrs Molloy says her sister does so much for neighbours, friends and family, “without a thought for her own well-being.”

“She is the most caring, helpful, kindest unpaid carer I know. The time she gives to others is unending.” Mrs Molloy said.

“For the past 10 years she has cared for so many neighbours, and friends, sadly who were dying, then went on to look after the spouses that were left on their own.

“Then going that extra mile to help the family clear out the house, to get it ready for sale.”

Mrs Bryant said: “I like to help my neighbours. It is a privilege to be with someone who is dying if you can help them in an way you can.”

Mrs Molloy also says she has been in and out of hospital many times, and when she has woken up her sister has been by her side. A mother of three children, Mrs Bryant also has six grandchildren and is soon to be a great-grandmother for a third time.

The Community Pride Awards are run by The Press with City of York Council and the primary sponsor is York-based healthcare organisation Benenden. Nominees must live in, or contribute to life in the City of York Council area, and finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October.

Entries must be sent to York Community Pride Awards, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN, or online at yorkpress.co.uk/communitypride by tomorrow.