MANCHESTER - A day off didn't mean off-duty for Manchester firefighter Tom Defina, who performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on an injured motorist last week when he happened upon an accident scene on a Massachusetts highway.

The rollover accident took place last Thursday on Interstate 93 in Methuen.

Defina said the woman he worked on was unconscious and not breathing; he maintained the effort after paramedics arrived.

Massachusetts State Police said Groton resident Nicole Deluca, 23, was thrown from the car and died. A 7-year-old boy was seriously hurt.

"I was pretty sure she wasn't going to make it," Defina said. Still, his actions won praise from Manchester Fire Chief Jim Burkush.

"I like to think everybody helps whenever they can," Burkush said. "With us, there's no hesitation."