A retired nurse from Norwich has paid a heartfelt thank you to the women who helped save her husband's life after he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on a city centre shop floor.

Eastern Daily Press: Liz Green has thanked everyone who helped to save her husband Walter's life after he collapsed in Hobbycraft, Norwich. They are pictured here on their golden wedding anniversary; Photo credit: Submitted.Liz Green has thanked everyone who helped to save her husband Walter's life after he collapsed in Hobbycraft, Norwich. They are pictured here on their golden wedding anniversary; Photo credit: Submitted. (Image: Archant)

When Liz Green, 75, and her husband Walter, 78, parked outside Hobbycraft at the Riverside Retail Park earlier this month, they thought it would just be a straightforward trip to buy some buttons to go on the jumper Mrs Green was making for their great grandson.

But within seconds of entering the shop Mr Green reached for his wife as he fell to the floor, turning blue.

'We had only just walked in the door and I just felt him tapping my shoulder as he was going down,' Mrs Green said. 'When I looked at him he was blue.

'But the first aiders were at his side within seconds.'

It was the swift actions of Hobbycraft staff Erica Simpson, her colleague Nicole Hicks and helpful customer Suzannah Lourenco who helped to save Mr Green's life on the morning of April 10.

As Ms Simpson began to do cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Ms Lourenco rang 999, and between them the women continued to administer CPR while Mrs Hicks comforted Mrs Green.

Click here to find out more about their efforts.

She said: 'He has never really been ill before. He showed no signs or warnings of having heart problems whatsoever. He was gardening the day before and carrying heavy bags.

'It's a good job it happened in the shop and not in the car park - we are very lucky. It shows how important it is for everyone to have first aid training.'

The couple, of Plantsman Close, off Newmarket Road, have been married for 54 years and met at a dance in Scotland four years before getting married.

They moved to Norfolk in 1986 where Mr Green worked as a carpenter and builder, before he retired at the age of 73.

Mrs Green added: 'We want to thank the staff in Hobbycraft and also the community police and ambulance service, who all helped. Without them Walter would not be here. We also want to thank the doctors and staff at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital - they have been amazing.

'I also want to thank our family, friends and neighbours for their support.

'We just can't thank everyone enough.'

Mrs Green said her husband, who is still in hospital, is making a slow recovery and had suffered a few set backs in the last two weeks.

'He is not out of the woods yet,' she said. 'But he is doing well at the moment. We are just taking each and everyday as it comes.'

She added that she had already been in to thank the two women and had also spoken with Ms Lourenco over the phone. She hoped her husband would soon be well enough to thank the Hobbycraft heroes in person.

• Do you have a heartwarming story? Contact reporter Donna-Louise Bishop by emailing donna-louise.bishop@archant.co.uk, ringing 01603 693892 or follow on Twitter @donnaloubishop.