A WIFE told how a quick-thinking carer saved her husband’s life after he choked on a sweet which triggered a heart attack.

David Stevens, 66, of Eagle Way, Shoebury, has needed round-the-clock care since he had a stroke five years ago. He now has difficulty moving and speaking.

Karen Willis, 46, from Basildon, has been one of his carer for the past two years. She has now been hailed a hero by wife Jackie Stevens, 66, after jumping in to give emergency first aid.

Mrs Stevens said: “It was awful to watch but Karen was fantastic. She didn’t panic at all and just got on with giving him CPR.

“The medics came so quickly, within minutes, and took over. They shocked his heart before taking him to hospital.”

An air ambulance, which the Echo revealed last month was flown by Prince William, landed in the grounds of nearby Friars Primary School.

Ms Willis said: “David started coughing after eating an eclair, which isn’t entirely unusual. I cleared the obstruction but all of a sudden the colour just drained from his face.

“He slumped back and his colour went funny so straight away I told Jackie to call an ambulance. I told the operator what was going on and we realised he was having a heart attack.

“The whole thing was quite surreal. I didn’t think about anything really. I gave the phone to Jackie and told her she would have to relay the operator’s CPR instructions to me.

“I probably didn’t give more than 30 compressions before the paramedics got there and took over. It was a relief when they arrived and I continued to help them as much as I could.”

Just the week before Ms Willis had conincidentally looked up CPR on Youtube to refresh her skills. She added: “I know the technique can change all the time so I knew exactly what to do.”

Ambulance service duty manager Janet O’Mahoney, who helped Mr Stevens at the scene, said: “CPR was being performed on our arrival which can help make a massive difference to patient outcome.

“Using a defibrillator, our emergency medical technician who responded by car from the nearby station delivered one shock, which the patient’s heart responded positively to.

“With our critical care colleagues, it was excellent teamwork and thank you to everyone involved in this patient’s care.”

Mr Stevens spent ten days in hospital after the incident, which took place on Monday, February 20. He is now recovering at home.

Mrs Stevens said: “We think the choking that prompted the heart attack because he panicked.

“I just want to thank everyone involved. You hear of people waiting hours for an ambulance but they were so quick.

“David has a great team of carers who visited him in hospital.”