Heart attack pensioner meets the superstore staff who saved her life

Marlene Thorne collapsed in a Leeds Asda store during her weekly visit with her daughter Sarah Mather, 38.

Trained first aid staff spotted the 73-year-old pensioner in distress and struggling to breathe. While one gave her mouth-to-mouth, the other pumped her chest as they battled to keep her alive.

The grandmother of 10, from Green Lane, in Cookridge, Leeds, was then rushed to hospital where she stayed for two weeks and was fitted with a pacemaker.

Speaking of the two shop workers, Tina Watmough and Alex Green, who saved her life, the pensioner said: "I am shocked hearing what happened. I am so grateful to these two, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be sitting here now."

Mr Green, who trained in first aid last year, said that he was in the next aisle when someone alerted him.

"Her face was already really blue. I have not seen anyone that blue before. I went to listen to her breathing but it was only very slight. Shortly after that the breathing stopped altogether."

He then began to give both mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions. "She started breathing by herself so I put her in recovery but then her breathing went again so I had to put her back and start CPR again," he said.

Ms Watmough, who is also a first aider, added: "She died four times. Someone alerted the doctor's surgery and he came down and said 'that's enough, she's gone.' But I promised Sarah so I just couldn't stop even when he said let her go."