Hero medic saves neighbour

When Julie Chaplin moved into her new home six months ago she never realised how the decision would ultimately save her life.

Because when the 43-year-old grandmother had a near fatal heart attack at her Bloxwich home in front of her panic stricken family, it was her neighbour, an off duty paramedic, who saved the day.

She collapsed in front of her partner of 25 years Philip Field, her two daughters and three grandchildren, then stopped breathing and Philip could feel she had no pulse.

But he remembered a neighbour he had seen dressed in green leaving early for work every morning was a paramedic.

That man was Colin Lake who was not on duty at the time. He sprinted over to Julie's home in Somerfield Road after hearing what had happened.

Mr Lake carried out lifesaving first aid on Julie for quite some time until eventually she started breathing. She was then rushed to Walsall Manor Hospital where she spent four days in intensive care and a further two weeks in hospital recovering.Today she labelled Mr Lake "her hero" and said she wanted to let people know how he had saved her life last month.

She said: "I owe my life to him. He is my hero. I can't remember anything about what happened on that day. I just woke up in hospital. But I do know he got me breathing and saved my life. I owe everything to him.

"It seems like it was meant to be for me to come to this street. If Colin hadn't been there I would have died. It was fate. I can't thank him enough."

Julie has three children and three grandchildren and she says her near death experience has made her cherish every precious day.

Her partner Philip added: "Colin saved Julie's life. I had seen him come out of the house dressed in a green paramedic uniform on a number of occasions but never had the chance to have a proper chat with him.

"But when Julie collapsed I knew he was our only hope. He worked miracles on Julie and I want him to know how eternally grateful we are."

By Andy Richardson