A HEROIC off-duty nurse saved the life of a woman who suffered a cardiac arrest at a spa.

The woman was celebrating her 50th birthday with friends at Dudsbury Park Golf Club, Hotel and Spa in Ferndown when she collapsed.

However a Poole Hospital A&E nurse who was enjoying a spa day on her day off rushed to her aid and gave her life-saving CPR before using the on-site defibrillator to revive her.

Spa manager Julie Fripp branded her a hero saying her actions and having the on-site defibrillator saved the woman's life.

She said: “The nurse was a hero. She brought the woman back from the dead. If we hadn’t have had the A&E nurse there and the defibrillator she may not be here. It was horrendous but an amazing outcome.

“Her friend has since been in touch who is very grateful and thankful.”

The woman had only just arrived for her spa day when she collapsed in the changing rooms.

The nurse rushed to her aid with another male guest who shocked the woman four times to restart her heart.

She was rushed to hospital where she was fitted with a pacemaker.

Julie said: “She was fine when she arrived and went to get changed but collapsed in the changing room.

“Luckily we had a Poole Hospital A&E nurse enjoying a spa day here on her day off who quickly acted with CPR breaking two of the lady’s ribs. "Another first aid helper also assisted with the on-site defibrillator which was used three times on the lady and on the fourth occasion brought her back.

“The A&E nurse said had it not been for the defibrillator on our premises, she would not have been able to save the lady’s life.

“My young spa therapists plus other senior first aid trained Dudsbury staff all worked together to assist with this wonderful outcome. Naturally they were all quite traumatised after the event and the spa was closed for the rest of the day.

“What is important is that we get the message out that defibrillators save lives.”

Julie said the therapists have since visited Poole Hospital A&E to give more than 50 members of staff manicures, pedicures and massages in their breaks as a thank you for their hard work raising more than £500 for cancer charities.

Julie added: “We wanted to give back just a little for their relentless efforts to care for the injured and sick in our community. A thank you for the wonderful work done by employees of our marvellous NHS organisation.”