EMERGENCY crews gave a man who had suffered a cardiac arrest a fighting chance of survival after an air ambulance landed in a school field.

The Essex Air Ambulance helicopter landed in the grounds of Belfairs Academy, off Highlands Boulevard, Leigh, after an elderly man was reported to have collapsed and gone into cardiac arrest nearby.

The crew worked with East of England Ambulance paramedics to stabilise the man before taking him to Southend Hospital in a land ambulance in a serious condition.

Emergency crews were first called at about 6pm on Wednesday evening, with the air ambulance eventually leaving the academy about three hours later.

An East of England Ambulance spokesman said: “We received a call at 6.08pm to reports of an elderly man who had collapsed and gone into cardiac arrest in Leigh.

“Two ambulance crews, two rapid response vehicles, an ambulance officer and a helicopter was dispatched to treat the man.

“Fortunately, crews were able to restart the man’s heart before he was conveyed to Southend Hospital for further treatment via land ambulance in a serious condition.”

The hospital was unable to provide an update on the man’s condition.

Margaret Kerr, 81, of Highlands Boulevard, said: “I often see the ambulance helicopter round here, you can tell the difference as to what one it is but I didn't hear anything that night. It's such a nice area to live round here though."

Another resident who wished to remain anonymous added: "That's horrible. I didn't see anything but I hope he's okay and well."

The academy's playing fields are routinely used as a landing area for the air ambulance when attending emergencies in the Leigh area.

In September, the air ambulance landed on school grounds after a young man on a bicycle collided with a van on the intersection between Southern Boulevard and Olive Avenue nearby.

He suffered head injuries and was also taken to Southend Hospital via land ambulance.

Incidents called in to the air ambulance are sometimes less serious than first thought, but the charity operates a “better safe than sorry” policy when responding to calls and its crews often accompany the patient to hospital in land ambulance while working with East of England paramedics.

Essex Air Ambulance is not funded by the NHS like other emergency services.

It provides free lifesaving care to people across Essex and Hertfordshire at a cost of £500,000 a month.

Specialist doctors and critical care paramedics carry life-saving support equipment to deliver care that is normally only found in hospital emergency departments. Once stabilised patients can be airlifted to hospital in the fastest possible time.

To support this vital service join up to the air ambulance flight for life lottery. Since January 1998 it has raised more than £16million to help keep the air ambulance flying.

To join up visit essexairambulance.uk.com/flight-for-life-lottery.