"That young man was a star - just exceptional," she said. "We hear so many negative things about young people today, so I thought it was important to acknowledge the good ones.
"I hope I didn't embarrass him too much."
Ms Phipps said she got "such a fright" when she tripped after stepping off a footpath in the supermarket's service carpark.
"I think the toe of my shoe must have got caught," she said. "One minute, I was on my feet; the next, I went flying.
"I couldn't get up for a while afterwards."
She put her hand out to break her fall, the impact splitting the skin on her palm, and leaving her shoulder, elbow and thumb "black" with bruises.
Members of the public called an ambulance, and Mr Crossan came to her aid after being alerted by a customer.
He said he sat and chatted with Ms Phipps while the paramedics attended to her, which helped her relax.
"She said she was going on a trip to Rome and Florence - and was only a few days from flying out," Mr Crossan said. "She was a bit concerned about being injured on her holiday."
Ms Phipps chose not to go to hospital, so Mr Crossan walked her back to her car - and made sure she was able to grip the steering wheel with her injured hand.
"He did say he would take me all the way home if I couldn't drive.
"But for me, getting the phone call the next day was the icing on the cake.
"There are first aid people, and there are first aid people, but he was delightful."
Mr Crossan said Ms Phipps was "in good spirits" when he rang, and looking forward to her six-week holiday in Europe.
He was humbled and taken aback by her public show of appreciation.
"I didn't do anything much, just gave her a bit of support.
"I'm a bit of a quiet guy - I don't expect to be thanked, or have anything in return.
"It's the sort of thing you'd do for anyone."
