A HEART attack survivor has been reunited with life-saving ambulance staff who helped save his life.

Bernard Green, 67, had just settled down to read the paper after a long weekend working in the garden when he felt an “awful” pain in his chest.

His wife Maureen called an ambulance for her normally fit and active husband – who was about to suffer a serious heart attack.

Mr Green, who lives in Marine Parade, Leigh said: “I told Maureen I thought I had strained myself picking up a gas bottle but it got worse so she called 999. Five minutes later there was a knock at the door and there was the ambulance and another paramedic in a car.

"Goodness me they were here quickly. They gave me aspirin, did ECGs, asked me questions about how bad it was getting, although it hurt to talk."

Mr Green added: “If they didn’t act as they did, with their knowledge, I wouldn’t be here. They couldn’t have been kinder to me and to Maureen too, as when something like this happens it affects the partner as well.

“They would say they were only doing their job but I say thank God they were here. I feel very grateful.”

The incident happened on  On June 1, 2014 and now Mr Greeen has been reunited with the ambulance staff who helped save his life almost a year ago to the day.

The grandfather-of-four thanked John Claridge from Shoeburyness, Neil Ashford from Westcliff and Geoff Baulch from Canvey for the care they provided care at scene

Mr Ashford said: “It was really nice of Bernard to write us a letter. It’s great to come here and see him healthy and back to normal.”

Mr Green, who needed three stents, was also full of praise for staff at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre at Basildon Hospital and Southend University Hospital, where he spent his recovery and later attended cardiac rehabilitation sessions.

He added: "I guess none of us are as immortal as we think we are. Sometimes you do wonder why you work all those hours. It does give you a bit of a jolt.”