A heroic trainee nurse who saved a woman from drowning in a Black Country canal has been named an Express & Star Local Hero.

Leanne Blackwood, aged 19, was on her way to work in the middle of the day when she saw the woman face down in the canal off Bridgeman Street, Walsall. The cadet nurse at Walsall Manor Hospital leapt into action and dragged the woman to safety just as she was about to sink.

She had feared the woman was dead but noticed she began to move in response to shouts. The barely-conscious victim, aged in her 40s, was able to grab a bag which Miss Blackwood threw out as a lifeline.

Tributes have flooded in for the young nurse and Miss Blackwood is now to be given a Local Heroes Award, in partnership with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Birmingham Midshires.

She has already been given a certificate and will get her main award at a Local Heroes dinner being held at Molineux in December.

Miss Blackwood, of Kingstanding, Birmingham, said: “I am honoured to receive this award, it makes me feel I am doing my job properly.”

The courageous teenager, who is two months away from completing her NVQ Level Three health and Social Care certificate, added: “People have stopped me in the street and recognised me which is really nice, I have certainly told the story a few times now.”

After pulling the woman from the water Miss Blackwood checked her airways and put her in the recovery position before calling for an ambulance.

She said: “I have heard the woman was fine, but I have not had the chance to meet her at all. It all happened so quickly but I just acted automatically.

“I started shouting when I saw her and she seemed to rouse a bit.

“I had to grab her out by her collar when she got close enough.”

She said: “I didn’t feel nervous, I felt confident in what I was doing.”

Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Sue James said: “Leanne’s quickness of action and willingness to get involved was most impressive.”