A NEWTON Abbot man has been reunited with the ambulance crew who saved his life when he had a heart attack at his local gym.

Father-of-four Steven Hall, 54, was running on a treadmill at Winners 2000 Gym in Kingsteignton when he experienced severe chest pain. Fellow gym user Angela Rimmer called 999 after noticing Steven in distress outside the gym.

South Western Ambulance Service paramedic Stuart Dando and emergency care assistant Hannah Page arrived within five minutes to find Stephen in a serious condition. They treated him in the ambulance and drove him to Torbay Hospital for heart surgery. Steven had two stents fitted and has gone on to make a full recovery. He and his family visited Newton Abbot Ambulance Station today to thank Stuart and Hannah in person.

Steven said: ‘I truly believe that if they hadn’t got to me as quickly as they did and treated me how they did I wouldn’t be here today. They saved my life.

‘When I got into the ambulance I asked the paramedic if my heart rate was fast, the paramedic, Stuart, replied: “it’s not too bad actually. But you are having a heart attack” – nice to meet you too Stuart, I thought.

‘I’m so grateful to the crew. They are a credit to the ambulance service and the NHS are lucky to have them.’

Before the emergency in August, Steven had lost four stone in four months after running long-distance almost every day. Steven believes that his former lifestyle was a contributing factor to his heart attack. ‘I smoked 20-a-day for 20 years until five years ago, and my heart was in a bad condition.’

Angela Rimmer, who made the 999 call said: ‘I was in the right place at the right time. Emergencies like this can happen to those you least expect. Steven looked fit and healthy. I’m glad there’s been a happy ending.’

Paramedic Stuart said: ‘We attend quite a few heart attacks. Steven’s presenting condition was pretty serious, and we were concerned it could’ve got worse.

‘We did everything we could for Steven, but we weren’t sure how his recovery would go. It’s been great to meet-up him and his family. It’s been great to meet-up him and his family.’