Stranger saves family man's life with CPR

The family of a man who had a heart attack and whose life was saved by a stranger said his actions "mean the world" to them.

Barry Simpson was in Byker, Newcastle, when he collapsed on Tuesday and his heart stopped beating.

Passer-by Sam Collard, 24, performed CPR on the 55-year-old and was able to restart his heart before paramedics arrived. He is now recovering well in the city's Freeman Hospital, his family said.

Stepson Anth Matthews, 37, speaking to Collard for the first time on BBC Radio Newcastle, said: "I cannot thank him enough, without him, we wouldn't be planning Barry's recovery - we'd be planning his funeral."

Simpson was out with his wife when he had the heart attack, but she was struggling to perform CPR herself and was "screaming for help", Matthews said.

However, Collard said he had trained people to do CPR and other first aid when he had worked with an offshore survival company, which teaches the skills to those working at sea - such as oil and gas workers.

• Listen to Sam Collard reunite with family of man whose life he saved

Matthews said his stepdad was "speaking and eating" and Collard had "100 per cent stopped him from having any brain damage" by restoring blood to his brain.

"He's on the mend already, it's amazing," he said.

Collard, who went back to his job as a removal man afterwards, said: "I'm not trying to be a hero, I didn't want all the publicity, I just saw someone that needed help.

"If it was my family member, I'd want someone to do the same type of thing."

Matthews added: "He'll have a pint for you waiting once he gets himself sorted."

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