A journalism student has overcome a life-threatening stroke to win top training marks and get her first job in the industry.

Katie Hopkins started a fast-track diploma course in journalism at the beginning of the year with bags of excitement and enthusiasm for a career in the regional press.

But within weeks of starting at the Brighton Journalist Works, the 23-year-old trainee found herself in the middle of a medical emergency.

Although relatively young, she suffered a stroke and was taken to hospital.

“I soon realised I would not be returning to Journalist Works any time soon,” she said.

“After undergoing what felt like every test imaginable, I was discharged from hospital but remain a medical mystery.”

A few months into her recovery and Cardiff-born student went back to the Brighton training ground which has 60 places available on three fast-track courses each year.

She tagged on to the next available course and started practising her shorthand.

Not only did she finish her National Council for the Training of Journalists’ course with a ‘gold standard’ but also bagged a job at Newsquest’s subbing hub in Newport in south Wales.

“It was a huge relief to manage to finish my qualification and so exciting to get gold standard after working on it for such a long time,” added Katie.

“I felt really supported by all the staff and am thrilled to be able to say I’ve now got an ideal job as a sub-editor because of this course. “

Training boss Paula O’Shea said she’d never known anything like it in seven years at the helm of BJW.

“Katie has overcome real adversity. Half way through the 14-week course she had a stroke and was left fearing for her life,” said Paula, a former Slough Observer chief reporter who went on to work for both the BBC and ITN.

“She has triumphed over what could have been a tragedy. To come back from that –  resit the course, achieve a gold standard in her NCTJ Diploma in Journalism and get a job within three weeks of gaining her qualification  –  is nothing short of remarkable.

“Katie has proved herself to be an exceptional student and deserves to have a bright future ahead. She is one plucky rookie . . .”