A PENSIONER was saved by fellow patients after suffering a heart attack at cardiac support group.
Ted Reilly, 67, was attending the first of his classes recommended to help him recover from a quadruple heart bypass.
The massive attack stopped his heart but the coronary nurse taking the session, helped by others, rushed to the rescue.
Patient Marie Hutchinson grabbed a Heartstart defibrillator and, with the help of leisure centre lifeguards Gordon Cary and Alan Towers, revived him.
Mr Reilly, from East Herrington, Sunderland, said: "If you are going to have a heart attack, you might as well have one when you're at a cardiac support group.
"I have seen the result from the defibrillator trace and I was medically dead.
"Before this happened, I felt like I was living on borrowed time, now I feel like it is double-borrowed time."
Ms Hutchinson, Mr Cary and Mr Towers have received Royal LifeSavers awards for their actions.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article