FORMER Trowbridge Town manager Neil Kirkpatrick has donated £10,000 to a Cyprus hospital as a way of saying thank you after they helped save his life a year ago.

Mr Kirkpatrick, of Shrewton Close, was on holiday in Paphos with his wife Debbie in July last year when he suffered a heart attack.

And after spending three weeks in intensive care, he returned home to Trowbridge, pledging to raise money for the staff through a series of fundraisers.

Last month, he was able to return to Evangelismos Private Hospital to present them with the money which will go towards an emergency transportation ventilator.

“It was really mixed emotions going back over there,” the 52-year-old said.

“I was quite proud of our achievements because when I first started, I thought if I was able to raise a couple of grand, we would have done well but to make it to £10,000 has been amazing.

“When we got out there, we expected three or four people to meet us but there was so many nurses, doctors and even board members there and it was definitely a big thing for them.”

Raising the money through a sponsored walk and a charity golf day and auction, Mr Kirkpatrick, who was manager at Trowbridge Town nine years ago, said the support from family, friends and strangers who went along to the fundraisers was very humbling.

“We wanted to see that the money was going to go towards something that I knew would help save lives and I think a lot of other people were willing to donate because what happened to me could have happened to anyone,” Mr Kirkpatrick added.

“When I was in hospital at the time, I said to the cardiologist Dr Karvounaris that I would do something to help and I always said I would go back and see them. It was always our plan to take the money out there because it was our way of thanking them.

“Everyone’s generosity has been amazing and it has restored my faith in human kind.

“I think this whole thing has showed what you can achieve when you put your mind to it.”

Mr Kirkpatrick was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator to be fitted to stop any arrhythmias following the heart attack.