A trio of off-duty nurses helped victims trampled by runaway horses at Harbour Nights.

The women, who work in the Operating Room at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, sprang into action after watching the Wednesday night drama at first hand.

They helped some of the most seriously injured among the 19 who got hurt when a pair of horses ran off with their carriage and careered into a crowd.

Maria Nagamos, Melanie Ganshorn and Erin Tarleton were all enjoying the first Harbour Nights of the season when they saw the out-of-control horses running down the street and the crowd parting “like the Red Sea”.

Mrs. Nagamos said: “I watched in horror, knowing there was nothing I could do. I saw the carriage stop near the stage and as I went to look at the scene there was this lady bleeding, with a towel on her head. She said ‘I’m looking for my Mum’ and I said ‘I’m a nurse and I’d like to help’.”

After assisting the lady, Mrs. Nagamos, 33, from Warwick, went on to help others by putting them in the right positions until a fleet of ambulances started arriving, then helped put them on spinal boards and stretchers.

“I was really scared by what happened, but I’m a medical professional and I have to help,” she said. “When I got home I was shaking.”

Meanwhile, Miss Ganshorn and Miss Tarleton were able to help the lady’s mother, who had also been hurt, along with several other victims who were seriously injured. Some were still lying on the ground when they arrived, and one woman was unconscious, they said.

“There was certainly some panic and people were disorientated because the horses came from behind them and the lady we treated asked what had happened,” said Miss Tarleton, 26, from Pembroke. “Lots of people were looking for family members.”

Miss Ganshorn, 29, from Paget, added: “We were shocked to see the extent (of the injuries) but I think one thing that was very helpful was the microphone system because the organisers were able to use it to control the crowds.

“I’d really like to say ‘it was a solid good job’ to the emergency medical services — the EMTs and fire fighters.

“The fireman working with me was great and totally kept control of the situation. They responded really fast.”

The nurses said they were not the only off-duty medics at the scene immediately after the accident, as there was also a doctor, a US Army medic and a couple of nurses from visiting cruise ships.

“I saw lots of people trying to help. There was unity in the air. Everyone wanted to help,” said Mrs. Naganos. According to data from the hospital, the youngest victim was seven and the oldest 73. They suffered from injuries ranging from broken bones to concussion and lacerations.

Nine of those injured were tourists and all were released from hospital by Thursday apart from one woman who suffered multiple fractures.