A journalism student at a UK university had a lucky escape from the massacre on Norway’s Utoya island in which at least 68 people died.

Vegard Grott, who is studying photojournalism at Liverpool John Moores University, had been working as an agency photographer on the island in his native Norway.

The 21-year-old had been meant to cover a ministerial visit to the island on the day gunman Anders Breivik opened fire at a political youth camp.

However he was called away on an impromptu assignment the day before the shootings after another cameraman called in sick.

Vegard, who had been spending his summer working for the Scanpix picture agency in Oslo, revealed his lucky escape in an interview with the Liverpool Daily Post.

He said he remembered the camp’s youngsters enjoying a “fun kick around” as he left the island on Thursday, the day before the massacre.

“I feel extremely lucky,” he told the LDP.  He said his Friday shift at the camp had been scheduled to finish “an hour or so before” Breivik opened fire but added: “You never know.”

Vergard was sent to cover a football match in mainland Kristiansand because another cameraman was sick.