Student recognised after volunteering for more than 2,000 hours on the frontline during the pandemic

• Video report from ITV News Meridian's Joe Coshan

A photography student from Southsea has been commended for her hard work on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic.After volunteering more than two thousand hours for St John Ambulance over the last eighteen months, Amy Hughes has been given an Award for Excellence by the University of Portsmouth.

In the last 18 months, Amy's worked the equivalent number of hours as a full timer for St John Ambulance: from supporting nightingale hospitals, to administering life saving COVID jabs. 

• Amy describes the moment one of her patients passed away

Amy describes the moment a patient passed away whilst holding her hand: "That was a massive thing. Being able to be there in their last moments was a big thing because of Covid their family couldn't get there on time."

"It's changed the end of their life and it's changed mine because I've had that privilege"

Once her 12 hour shift finishes, she would then have to write an essay for her photography degree at the University of Portsmouth. But surprisingly, the two go hand in hand. 

Amy said: "As a photography student you don't realise that getting someone relaxed in front of a camera is a big thing. And being able to get a good photo they need to be settled in that environment because it's a very alien environment."After notching up over 2,000 hours of volunteering, Amy confessed that it's made her have a change of heart on her career choice.

• Amy eyes a job in the ambulance service

She said: "I definitely want to join the ambulance service. I don't know where of what yet - I've still got a bit of time to work that out."

"Unfortunately I do love photography but it's going to have to be a bit of a hobby for now".

"I just love working for the ambulance service too much."