A PATIENT who survived a cardiac arrest has thanked ambulance workers for helping save his life.

Des Crockford suddenly collapsed in the early hours of the morning at his home in Southwick almost a year ago.

His daughters Jade, 21, and Georgia, 18, were woken by their pet dog Brooke, who was acting restless.

While dealing with her they discovered their dad unconscious and not breathing in his bed.

They dialling 999 and followed the instructions provided by an emergency medical advisor from South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb).

Jade, who is studying medical sciences at Exeter University and currently on placement at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, began chest compressions in the minutes before the ambulance crews arrived.

Ambulance technician Colin Fox, crew mate Charles Garnham and critical care paramedic Richard Crabb and paramedic practitioner Katie Moorman were among the Secamb workers to arrive at the scene.

Crews continued with CPR and restarted Mr Crockford’s heart using a defibrillator.

Mr Fox said: “We were travelling on the Shoreham flyover on our way to another job when we were stood down to attend Des.

“Jade’s actions were vital as they ensured we had a chance of saving her dad.”

The team worked to stabilise Mr Crockford before transferring him to hospital.

However his room was in a loft conversion with steep stairs so crews had to call for help from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to get him out via the window.

Mr Crockford was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton where he was fitted with an internal defibrillator just over a week later.

He went through weeks of rehabilitation and was not able to return to his job as a civil servant for three months.

Mr Crockford recovered well and is also able to get back to his favourite activity of cycling.

Mr Crockford and Jade recently visited Secamb staff to say thank you in person.

He said: “My recovery has gone very well. I’m being sensible but physically I’m starting to feel as fit as I did before my cardiac arrest.

“Emotionally it’s been hard on all of us and I can’t imagine what Jade was thinking having to do CPR on me.

“It’s a debt I’ll never be able to repay. We’ve faced it all as a family and we’re looking forward to going away on holiday soon.”

Jade said: “I’ve been trained in CPR but obviously it was difficult and very different having to perform it on a member of your own family.”