THE FAMILY of a woman who survived certain death after collapsing with a blood clot to the heart in a busy supermarket said it was as if “all the stars were aligned for her” on the day.

Catherine Maguire, 48, stopped breathing and had no pulse as she lay on floor in front of her horrified husband and three daughters in Sainsbury’s in Durham’s Arnison Centre, on Christmas Eve.

The Northern Echo: REUNION: Catherine Maguire who collapsed in Sainsbury's at Durham's Arnison Centre returns to thank everyone who helped save her life Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

Catherine Maguire who collapsed in Sainsbury's at Durham's Arnison Centre returns to thank everyone who helped save her life Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

But staff trained in first aid leapt into action, followed by passing Police and Community Support Officer Debbie Sadler-Knox who carried out CPR, while an anaesthetist who happened to be in the store ensured her airways remained clear.

Off-duty paramedic Stephen Tate, also shopping in the store, used a recently-installed defibrillator to twice shock Mrs Maguire's heart and revived her.

And in further stroke of fortune, on-duty paramedic Sarah Ulph happened to be refuelling at the supermarket and was able to help before guiding the North East Air Ambulance into land on a nearby field.

Mrs Maguire, from nearby Framwellgate Moor, was flown to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, and was well enough to return to Sainsbury's today (Friday, January 6) for an emotional reunion.

The Northumbrian Water administrator, who remembers nothing of her ordeal, said: "I feel extremely lucky to be alive because I don't think I would have survived if defibrillator hadn't been here, with all the people here to help me."

Husband Jon, 45, who works in IT for the NHS, relived the terror of the event in front of their daughters, Mollyanne, 14, Maisie, 12, and Grace, 10, as they did last-minute Christmas shopping.

"It was horrible," he said. "My girls have seen things they shouldn't have."

He praised Sainsbury's staff, who were first to help and put up blankets to provide privacy and looked after the girls, as well as the emergency services personnel.

"It's as if all the stars were aligned for her. If it had happened in the house or anywhere else it probably would have been a different outcome.”

Mr Tate said: "I was shopping when I just happened to see it. . . . She was dead to all intents and purposes. She was not breathing and had no cardiac output.

“The second shock we got her back. Having the defibrillator made a massive difference.

“Apparently they only got it in October. Sainsbury’s need to give themselves a pat on the back because she wouldn’t have been here without it.”

Miss Ulph added: "To have everybody here in such a close area is amazing. To have a cardiac arrest in front of paramedics, first aiders, a defib, an anaesthetist, me across in the car park. That’s amazing.

"God forbid for it to happen, but you couldn't hope for it to happen with better people around you."

PCSO Sadler-Knox who carried out chest compressions, while staff member Janet Atkinson gave Mrs Maguire mouth-to-mouth, said: "I never been so scared in my life." Other members of staff involved were Lee White and Dawn Metcalfe.

Mr Maguire said: "Initially it was the worst Christmas ever. We had our Christmas day when mum was back home on New Year's Eve. It was the best Christmas ever.”