Walk the Wight heart attack casualty meets the people who saved his life

Neil Fawcett, 65, was taking part in his first walk for Mountbatten in May when he collapsed on Brook Down.

He explained: "I had no inkling that it was coming. I'm pretty fit and carry no weight, so it was a complete shock.

"I started the walk with my neighbour Robin Lansell at Bembridge Airport and we were about three-quarters of the way through the course. I actually felt fine while I was walking and then just collapsed.

"I was so lucky. There were some guys from the IW Rugby Club from Wootton close by and they had just completed a CPR course. Then a trained midwife, Sophia Whitaker, came to my aid."

Sophia, from Yarmouth, said: "I thought at first Neil had just had a fall, but I saw there were a few people around him. I told them who I was and could see he had been placed in the recovery position.

"But it was obvious he wasn't breathing and that's when I started giving him CPR.

"The rugby guys came over to give me a hand while the paramedics were called. We all took it in turns to give Neil CPR, which is quite strenuous, and we got his heart working again.

"A paramedic arrived on a motorbike and put in an air line, then the ambulance turned up, followed by the air ambulance.

"The air ambulance couldn't land near Neil because of the slope. So he was taken by the ambulance as close as possible to the helicopter and the rugby guys carried him up on a stretcher."

Neil was flown to Southampton where he had a quadruple coronary artery bypass.

He added: "The consultant surgeon said it had probably been building up over a number of years but nothing had happened because I was fit, and then it just stopped beating.

"I spent 12 days in hospital and I had been meaning to contact the people who saved me but Robin arranged a surprise party for everyone at his house.

"It was amazing and very emotional to see all those people who helped me to pull through. I owe my life to them."