A SQUASH player who collapsed on court was brought back to life by quick-thinking club members.

In a scene reminiscent of TV hospital drama Casualty, Ted Seaman slumped to the floor of the Cheltenham squash court after suffering a massive heart attack.

But for the actions of his playing partner at East Glos Club and the fact there was a defibrillator on site, the 59-year-old driver wouldn't be here to tell the tale.

Lying motionless on the hard surface, he was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by opponent Ross Forno while Dr Finlay Robinson, who rushed to the scene and took charge, shocked his heart back into action with the defibrillator.

Had the machine not been available, vital seconds would have been lost before paramedics arrived and Ted would have died.

He said: "The first thing I knew about it was when I woke up in hospital and there were doctors all around me.

"I hadn't felt any pain or dizzyness beforehand so there were no warning signs. I just collapsed and that was it.

"I had a very sore chest afterwards, but I put that down to the 16-stone man I'd just beaten at squash pushing on my chest!"

Ted, from Churchill Drive, Charlton Kings, regularly played squash and considered himself fit before he collapsed.

On the fateful day on July 30, he was rushed to Cheltenham General Hospital before being transferred to the heart unit at Bristol Royal.

It wasn't until the next day that Ted's wife, Anne, could visit him because of her recent hip operation. He then spent a week in hospital before being discharged.

Ted said: "Now I have a defibrillator in my shoulder with two wires extending to my heart. They're ready to shock it if anything goes wrong again.

"I wouldn't be here if that piece of equipment wasn't there and Ross hadn't reacted the way he did. I owe him a big thank you.

"I've been told playing squash again would be a bad idea. I'm going to miss it."

Ross, 32, says he got the fright of his life when Ted had his heart attack.

He said: "His face was deep purple and Ted started to stumble backwards.

"I grabbed hold of him and lowered him to the floor but the rest of him was deathly white.

"I used to be a lifeguard but I haven't done any training for years so I thought the best thing to do was make sure someone was on their way. I shouted for an ambulance to be called and then I screamed for someone who knew first aid.

"I knew I had to do something so I turned him on his back."

Fortunately, fellow club-member Dr Robinson was in the building and came running over.

Working as a team, he and Ross gave him mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions, before the GP used the defibrillator.

Oil company worker Ross, who lives in Clarence Square, said: "It all happened within a few minutes, but it seemed like half an hour.

"I was just willing him to stay alive. It really hit me when I got home how close he was to dying. I'm just so glad he made it through."

Di Pierce, the manager of the East Glos Club, in Old Bath Road, said: "Thankfully the defibrillator was here to help. It's something we've had for four years after being persuaded by the ambulance service it would be a sensible idea."

A Great Western Ambulance spokesman said: "I'm delighted to hear Mr Seaman continues to make a good recovery. Our paramedics who arrived on scene believe that the excellent quality CPR given to him in the first crucial minutes before they arrived saved his life.

"The case highlights the benefits of more people learning those life-saving skills as well as the importance of defibrillators being available. That is why we are always keen to talk to people about setting up community first responder schemes and placing defibrillators in public buildings."

Opinion, p8