A TEENAGER leading a running race dramatically collapsed and stopped breathing for 10 seconds — 20 metres before the finishing line.

Fourteen-year-old Meisha Cochrane fell to the ground on the home straight at a schools Athletics competition as hundreds of spectators looked on in horror.

An off-duty nurse ran to her aid and an ambulance was driven on to the track before she was taken to hospital.

She is now recovering and doctors are set to complete more tests after discovering that she has an irregular heartbeat.

The Unity College pupil was taking part in the 300-metre race at the Burnley Schools Athletics Championships at the Seedhill athletics track in Nelson when she was taken ill.

Her mother has spoken of her shock at the incident but Meisha, who lives with her family in Rosehill, Burnley, was just ‘gutted’ that she had not finished the race.

And race organiser John Williams, Meisha’s PE teacher, said: "Everyone just thought she had gone over on her ankle but we soon realised she had stopped breathing.

"We just hope she makes a quick recovery.”

Yesterday she was in good spirits, laughing and joking with her parents Donna Cochrane and Stephen Welch.

But the family now face an anxious wait to find out the results of further tests.

Speaking from her hospital bed on the children’s ward, Meisha said: “I just remember my legs giving way and then waking up at the side of the track with people all around me.

“I started feeling better when I got to hospital and I’m all right now.”

Mum Donna said they were keeping ‘everything crossed’ that it would be good news.

She said: “Meisha’s back to her normal self, laughing and smiling, but she’s under orders to take it easy because it was serious and there might be something wrong with her heart.

“The ECG machines yesterday showed abnormalities, so she’s going to have a scan on her heart and exercise tests.

“The doctors will then speak to a specialist at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool before deciding whether it’s something normal for Meisha or something more.”

Meisha, who has just started year 10 at the Towneley Park high school, was described by her mum as an ‘active’ child with no medical issues.

She said: “I’ve never had any problems with Meisha, she’s always been fit and healthy.

“She’s always enjoyed PE and dance at school, so it’s come as a real shock.

“She’s chosen PE and dance as her options at school. She absolutely loves taking part in everything - that’s why she was there on Thursday.

“The doctors have told her she can’t really do anything energetic at the moment.

"It will be hard work keeping her still because she’s always dancing around the house.

“Meisha’s sitting up now and has been eating chocolate and feeling absolutely fine, but we just have to wait for the test results.

“We’re very anxious and it is a bit scary for Meisha, but we’re sticking together and we’ll be all right.”

The inter-schools competition was organised by Mr Williams, a PE teacher at Unity College.

He said Richard Boardman, another Unity College teacher was first to give first aid and helped make Meisha comfortable until the off duty-nurse arrived.

He said: “She got to about 20 metres from the end and was winning but then she collapsed.

“She stopped breathing for 10 seconds. We were lucky there was an off-duty nurse on hand to make her comfortable until the ambulance arrived.”

Donna said she wanted to thank those who looked after Meisha during the ordeal, particularly the nurse.

She said: “She was able to give her professional opinion to nurses on the ward, so we’re really appreciative and thankful she was there.

“She’s also phoned up to see how Meisha is and how we are, so that was really nice and thoughtful of her as well.”