A NORTH-EAST lawyer who was minutes from death after suffering a cardiac arrest during the 2015 Great North Run is tackling the event again – to raise funds for the charity that saved his life.

Iain Walker, from Sunderland, was only two miles from the finish line when he suddenly collapsed and had to be resuscitated by medics from St John Ambulance who luckily happened to have a tent nearby.

He received two electric shocks and was rushed to hospital, where he spent three weeks in coronary care, before being fitted with small defibrillator in his chest.

With the support of his friends and family, he clocked up more than 300 training miles in the six months in preparation so he believed he was fit enough to complete the full half marathon distance without too much difficulty.

Doctors could not find anything wrong with his heart, with a combination of dehydration and exhaustion the most likely explanation for the collapse.

In the past two years, Mr Walker has not only made a full recovery, but got himself fitter than ever and has lost more than 9st since he first started training for the Great North Run in early 2015.

Having sat out last year’s event – cheering on his friend, Amy Watson, as she ran it for St John Ambulance, raising more than £600 in the process – the 31-year-old is ready to again take on the race that almost killed him.

Mr Walker, who is a trainee solicitor for a Middlesbrough-based law firm, said: “In early 2015, I was dared to take part in the Great North Run. I was not a fit person at the time, but I trained and I became what I thought was ‘fit enough’. It turns out I wasn’t.

“If I had not been lucky enough to collapse in front of a St John Ambulance tent and receive immediate, brilliant medical treatment, I wouldn’t be here today. They saved my life.

“I’d like to raise enough money to enable them to buy another life-saving defibrillator.”

Tyler Anderson, fundraiser for St John Ambulance in the North East, said: “It’s fantastic that Iain is raising funds to support our life saving work and he’s living proof that our volunteers can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.

“We wish Iain all the very best on the run and we’ll be there cheering him, and all the other amazing runners, along the way.

“St John Ambulance volunteers will be along the route once again, to offer help and support to anyone who needs it.”

Since being released from hospital, Iain has completed countless training miles, taking part in numerous parkrun and 10k events.

The 2017 Simplyhealth Great North Run, between Newcastle and South Shields, takes place on Sunday, September 10.

Mr Walker’s family and friends will be there to support him – but have warned that completing the race safely is more important than recording a new personal best time.

To sponsor Mr Walker, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/iain-walker7