A grandmother is encouraging people to learn CPR and first aid after she was reunited with the crew who saved her.

Sue Ross, 60, called 999 when she was suffering from chest pain in October last year.

Paramedic Ed Hyson was first to arrive to the scene and called colleagues for back up before Sue collapsed in cardiac arrest.

She required two shocks with a defibrillator to restart her heart.

Sue, a former charity chief executive who now works as a GP’s receptionist, is now calling on more people to sign up and learn CPR and basic first aid training.

She said: “I’m just so grateful for everything everyone did and I wanted to say thank you in person.

“I’d had an operation a few weeks before I collapsed and they think I had a blood clot which led to my cardiac arrest. I think it’s really important for people to understand how to perform CPR.

“My daughter used to be a nurse and now teaches first aid so we organised an event where 15 or so of our friends came over and learnt CPR. Everyone should know what to do.”

Sue’s husband Malcolm added: “It’s thanks to Ed and his colleagues that Sue is here today. I can’t thank them enough.

“We were very lucky that Ed was there to act immediately but it’s important to realise that anyone can start chest compressions to help save someone’s life.”

Ed said: “It was lovely to see Sue and see someone being so positive about spreading the importance of CPR. It’s really nice to see someone fully recovered as often we don’t know what happened after we’ve taken someone to hospital.”

Critical Care Paramedic Dave Hawkins and Operational Team Leader Andrea McLean soon arrived at the incident to assist Ed and give Sue further treatment before taking her to Medway.

Dave added: “It’s great to meet people who have benefitted from our service. Ed did a great job prior to the rest of us arriving as back up.

“On behalf of everyone I’d like to thank Sue and Malcolm for taking the time to come and see us and wish them and their family all the very best for the future.”