The family of a man who had a heart attack in a park are urging people to learn CPR after an off-duty nurse stepped into action and saved his life.
Darren Norman, 44, of The Avenues, Norwich, collapsed in Norwich's Eaton Park while out with his partner and two grandchildren just after 1pm on Saturday, April 8.
Newly-qualified nurse, Nicki Doggett, 33, who was in the green space with her two young children at the time, 'went into autopilot' and performed life-saving CPR on Mr Norman before paramedics arrived.
She was also helped by two off-duty doctors who were enjoying the park.
Mr Norman remains at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital intensive care unit but Mrs Doggett, of Muriel Road, Norwich, met with his family in New Costessey a week after the emergency.
Trish Crisp, Mr Norman's partner, said: 'Nicki is definitely our angel. I'm still confused about it all but Darren is a fighter. If it wasn't for Nicki it would have been a completely different story though. She was the person who saved him and we cannot thank her enough. We wanted to meet her and say thank you.'
Ms Crisp, 46, added: 'We as a family would say to people learn to do CPR. We are all going to look into doing CPR courses.'
The family got in touch with Mrs Doggett after writing to the Norwich Evening News about the nurse's actions.
Mr Norman's father Mick, 69, from Hill Road in New Costessey, wrote the letter and wanted to be reunited with Mrs Doggett who only qualified as a nurse in September 2016.
Her neighbour saw the letter and she responded via the Norwich Evening News.
Mrs Doggett, who works as a recovery nurse at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, said: 'I had gone to get ice creams with my children and when I came back I saw a man on the floor. Everything happened so quickly. It wasn't until afterwards I thought about what had happened. It was the first time I have used CPR in a real-life situation since I qualified.
'Everyone is capable of learning CPR and you will never know when you will need it.'
She added it was lovely meeting Mr Norman's family.
For more information about life-saving skills visit www.sja.org.uk/sja/first-aid-advice/first-aid-techniques/resuscitation-cpr.aspx
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