caring for the woman and helped carry her 1.7km (5,600ft) down the volcano.

He leapt to the woman's aid when she fell 40m (131ft)

from a viewing platform during a trek to the top of Mount Batur 

The Highgate firefighter is on a backpacking holiday celebrating his birthday

and was taking part in a sunrise trek on Saturday when the woman fell.

He said: "That was a massive relief.

"We both bounced off each other, making sure she stayed conscious

and her condition didn't worsen for the next six to seven hours."

Fellow travellers gave the woman clothes to keep her warm and formed a human chain

to lift her out of the crater with a stretcher, which took an hour.

Then they had a five-hour journey to the bottom of the volcano.

Mr Conway and Ms Agache travelled with the woman to hospital where she was found to have a fractured spine,

fractured ribs and a serious head injury.

Mr Conway said: "Given the state in which we found her, and the extent of her injuries, it's a miracle she survived."