A grandfather-of-four has been reunited with the ambulance staff who helped save his life – after his heart was restarted 11 times.

Steve Clarke was described by paramedics as being 'so close to death' after he was discovered collapsed in his kitchen.

The 60-year-old, from the Normanston area of Lowestoft, had suffered what he recalled was a 'crushing' chest pain as he called 999 and somehow managed to unlock his front door before collapsing in his home and going into cardiac arrest.

With the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) alerted in the early hours of March 7 last year, paramedics Andrew Ormiston and Jenny Stocking attended, along with student paramedic Thomas Lewis-McDonald.

Jenny said: 'Steve was so close to death, but he kept fighting.'

He was resuscitated eight times at home and en route to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and arrested a further three times while being prepared for surgery.

But after being off work for three months after his heart attack, he has made a remarkable recovery and, now, a grateful Mr Clarke has thanked two of the EEAST staff who rushed to his aid.

Recalling the collapse in his kitchen, the refrigerator engineer said: 'It started off as pain in my shoulder blade and went to my chest. I thought I could sleep it off, but when my heart started pounding, I called 999.

'I can remember unlocking the door and I remember it going dark and it felt like I was falling off a cliff. I remember coming out of theatre later that night and feeling great.'

He was in hospital for four days after having stents and a balloon inserted to repair a blocked artery.

Praising his life-savers, Mr Clarke added: 'I cannot thank you enough. Everything I do now is down to the ambulance and hospital staff.

'Life is so fragile and we take it for granted.'

Paramedic Jenny Stocking added: 'It is amazing to see him so well now.'

? Learn more about chest pain and cardiac arrest via www.eastamb.nhs.uk/your-service/chest-pain