A TROWBRIDGE grandfather who survived a cardiac arrest said he was ‘overcome with joy’ to meet the people who saved his life.

Martin Hyde, of The Down, was walking to Lidl with his wife Susan on November 29, when he collapsed in Canal Road.

In a ‘miraculous’ turn of events, Michael Hunt, of Westbury, who had recently completed a First Aid Course, happened to be heading to the supermarket to buy a family favourite cake, marzipan stollen.

When he saw that the 71-year-old had collapsed, he performed CPR on him until the South West Ambulance paramedics arrived, before he was airlifted to Bristol Royal Infirmary.

After several weeks in hospital and many more resting at home, Mr Hyde met up with Mr Hunt and ambulance crew member Richard Tilsley on Thursday in a joyous reunion at the ambulance’s base in Hilperton Road.

“I’m a lucky boy. The right people showed up to keep me alive. I’ll be eternally grateful,” he said.

“It really was miraculous. Michael told me that he rarely comes to this Lidl, but he did because he was picking up that cake for his mother. I was overcome with joy to meet them. My wife managed to track Michael down on Facebook and when I felt better I reached out to try and meet-up.”

Mr Hyde said: “Martin looked in a very bad state. He wasn’t breathing, and his face was purple. I rolled him onto his back and started CPR. He made a gargling sound, but I carried on doing chest compressions until the first paramedic arrived.”

“I did what I could for Martin, but it didn’t think it was too promising. So I was over the moon when I heard he was alive and home for Christmas. It’s remarkable.”

Mr Tilsley and paramedics then treated Mr Hyde and managed to get his heart beating again.

“I am delighted that he has made such a good recovery and would like to thank him for acknowledging the work of those involved,” he said.

The week before he suffered the cardiac arrest, Mr Hyde, who has two children and five grandchildren, was taken to hospital in Surrey after having heart problems.

Despite spending several days at home with his wife in Trowbridge, he says he does not remember resting at home during that time at all.

He is having a further treatment on April 25 to try and stop this from happening again. Mr Hyde is now walking several miles each day.

“I’d encourage anyone to act as quickly as possible in a cardiac arrest situation, and do chest compressions. Don’t be afraid to step in, and pump fast and hard to be beat of Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees. CPR kept me alive,” he said.