AN AIRLINE stewardess helped save the life of a toddler who was drowning during a trip to a holiday island.

Amanda Byrne, 34, of Macclesfield, was off-duty with colleague Sharon Patel, relaxing beside their hotel pool in the Dominican Republic when the drama unfolded.

The pair, who are both based at Manchester Airport with Air 2000, heard a commotion by the water and went to investigate.

They discovered that a young child had just been pulled out from the bottom of the swimming pool.

Their training immediately came to the fore and the women sprang into action.

Sharon, from Hyde, Tameside, took control of the crowd and made people stand back to give her colleague room to use her lifesaving first aid.

Meanwhile Amanda ensured the little girl's airways were clear so she could breathe and put her into the recovery position.

Amanda told manchesteronline: "We didn't think about the situation we found ourselves in - the safety training that we had been given just seemed to kick in. We knew that we had to act quickly.

"We were both really happy and extremely relieved when the little girl regained consciousness. Happily the young girl quickly recovered and was soon reunited with her mother."

When Amanda and Sharon turned up for duty to serve holidaymakers returning to Manchester they were amazed to discover their quick thinking had received official recognition.

Their pilot had been so impressed with their actions he included the incident in his flight report and suggested they receive a commendation.

Michelle Drage, Air 2000 Director Inflight Services said: "We are all very proud of Amanda and Sharon."

manchesteronline