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On 8 January this year, 20 year-old Daniel Hernandez Junior was in his first week working as an intern to the American Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

He was helping to organise an event outside a supermarket in Tucson, Arizona, giving voters a chance to meet their Congresswoman.

But suddenly a lone gunman opened fire, killing six people and injuring 12 others.

Seeing that Gabrielle Giffords had been shot in the head, Daniel rushed to help her.

Fortunately he had taken a first aid course at high school, though he had no formal medical training.

However it is thought that his prompt action may have saved her life.

And so, as the shootings made headlines around the world, President Barack Obama described Daniel as a hero.

The bullet which hit Congresswoman Giffords was fired at close range and travelled through the left half of her brain.

Now, three months later, her medical team say her recovery has been wonderful and there is a good chance she could attend her astronaut husband's space shuttle launch next month.

Outlook's Matthew Bannister spoke to Daniel Hernandez Junior on the line from Tucson and asked him to describe the events of that fateful day and how they changed his life.

First broadcast 16 March 2011