A RETIRED aviation manager given just a seven per cent chance of survival after his heart stopped while he drove through Bournemouth has thanked those who saved his life.

Kevin Steele had been heading to his home in Ferndown after watching AFC Bournemouth play Burnley in November last year when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest.

The 66-year-old was unconscious and without oxygen for five minutes. However, thanks to the efforts of bystanders and South Western Ambulance Service paramedics, he has gone on to make a full recovery.

Mr Steele said: “Without their skill, hard work and dedication, I would almost certainly not be alive today.

“To say ‘thank you’ is not nearly enough.

“They really were an A team of lifesavers, and my family and I will be eternally grateful.

“It was so difficult first to pull me out of the car. But then to do the chest compressions for CPR without any training - that is what saved my life, there is no doubt about it.”

Dramatic video footage from the dashcam in Mr Steele’s car shows a member of the public running towards his stationary vehicle after his collapse in Wellington Road.

Mr Steele describes footage of the incident like “watching your own death”.

Izabela and Peter Fiszbach stopped at the scene as they drove by and played a key role in helping Mr Steele.

They were also joined by Greg Erdmann who supported their efforts.

Mrs Fiszbach said: “We thought something was wrong, because the car was stopped in the middle of the road.

“I ran over and found him not breathing inside the car.”

A 999 call handler gave medical instructions on CPR to the helpers over the phone.

“It was very stressful. Doing CPR was tiring, but we were desperate to help,” said Mrs Fiszbach, who has never been trained in delivering CPR.

Mr Steele, the former CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, was rushed to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s intensive care unit and put into a coma for five days.

He said: “My family were told to prepare for the worst. Even after I arrived in hospital, they thought I was going to die. But the team at Bournemouth hospital were brilliant.”

He has now decided to volunteer at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Mrs Fiszbach added: “We had a call at 3am to say Kevin was alive.

“I cried with relief and happiness.

“It shows how much difference people can make if they are prepared to help in an emergency situation.”

Martyn Box, the ambulance service’s operations officer on duty when Mr Steele fell ill, said: “Kevin was extremely lucky. If his car had stopped on the side of the road, people might have assumed he was just asleep.”

Mr Steele had early access to the emergency response system, and early CPR. Paramedics were also on the scene quickly, Mr Box said.

“I am delighted to hear that Kevin has made such a good recovery,” he added.

“As his case demonstrates, the sooner that basic life support - and ideally a defibrillator - can be provided to someone in cardiac arrest the better their chance of survival.”

Around 30,000 people are treated for cardiac arrests in the UK every year.

Just nine per cent survive if their heart stops outside a hospital, but their chances increase significantly when CPR is administered early.

Anyone who suspects someone may be in cardiac arrest should call 999 and begin CPR. A defibrillator should be used if one is available.