Once they had reached the scene, Caroline broke through the crowd with Adele behind her. There, on the floor surrounded by inmates, was a woman. She was convulsing, and Adele watched, alarmed, as her arms and legs twitched uncontrollably. Caroline stepped forward and immediately took control.

‘Step back!’ she said. ‘Give her space. Has anyone got a pillow?’ When no one responded she turned to Adele. ‘See what you can find, will you? Just something soft to put under her head.’

The woman continued thrashing around as the throng of women gasped, and Caroline struggled to undo the top button of her blouse. For a few seconds Adele watched, her mouth agape, until Caroline prompted her. ‘Adele! A pillow?’

Adele snapped to and she was about to go in search of one when someone passed a rolled-up sweater to Caroline, who placed it beneath the woman’s head.

‘Help me hold them back,’ Caroline said to Adele. ‘She needs space.’

She followed Caroline’s lead, spreading her arms out to hold back the masses of curious onlookers. Adele’s heart beat rapidly as she watched the woman on the ground, her body jerking involuntarily. ‘Will she be OK?’ she asked Caroline, her voice full of concern.

‘Yes, she’ll come out of it soon. Don’t worry.’

They continued to hold the prisoners back. Adele could feel the crowd of women pressing behind her as they tried to catch a glimpse of the woman on the ground.

‘Keep back! Give her space,’ Caroline kept repeating, and Adele could see the determination on her face.

Two prison officers arrived just as the woman was coming out of the epileptic fit.

‘Get back!’ one of them shouted.

Then they stepped forward, pushing Adele and Caroline out of the way while they attended to the woman and put her in the recovery position.

‘Thanks, but no thanks,’ Caroline muttered sarcastically as she and Adele walked away.

‘Bloody hell! That was scary,’ said Adele.

Caroline smiled. ‘You’ll get used to it.’

‘What? You mean, it’s happened before?’

‘Oh, yeah. To her and a couple of others.’

Adele stared back at Caroline in shock.

‘She’s a druggie,’ said Caroline. ‘Withdrawal can do that to them.’

‘Oh my God! I didn’t realise. It was so scary.’

‘Yeah, it is the first time you see it.’

‘You were brilliant,’ said Adele.

‘Not really. You just know what to do once you’ve seen a few.’

‘Can it harm them?’

‘Not usually. Most fits are over in a few minutes. The main thing is to give them room so they don’t bang themselves on anything and to cushion their heads and loosen any clothing around the throat so it’s not restricting their breathing. The trouble is, most prisoners are too busy gawking to do what needs to be done.’

‘I noticed,’ said Adele, beginning to relax now it was over.