SMILING Bradford Bulls fan Peter Owens took this happy 'selfie' just moments before he suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed while watching a match.

Now the quick-thinking "heroes" who sprang into action to save the 57-year-old's life are to be thanked during an on-field presentation at the Provident Stadium.

Volunteer first aiders from St John's Ambulance, along with a doctor, will be invited onto the pitch at half-time in Saturday's tie between the Bulls and Halifax RLFC, where they will be reunited with Mr Owens and will take the applause of the crowd.

Mr Owens, of Roberttown, Liversedge, suffered a cardiac arrest during the game against Leigh Centurions in July, and was only saved by the quick-thinking of a St John’s Ambulance team and Dr Fran Young, who was nearby in the crowd when the incident happened.

Mr Owens, said he was only at the game because his father-in-law was feeling unwell, so had been given his ticket at the last minute.

He said: “I'm the luckiest man alive.

“It doesn't bear thinking about, but had I been at home or out on my bike, I would be dead. I can't wait to meet the people who saved me, so I can thank them in person.”

Mr Owens collapsed during the game, and upon hearing calls for help Dr Young, who was nearby, pushed through the crowd to perform CPR.

Within two minutes, the St John’s Ambulance team, which included Richard Walton, Paul Buckley and Terry Laycock were on the scene, and used a defibrillator (AED) to restart Mr Owens’ heart.

Others members of the team due to receive commendations include Olivia Harnby and Kathy Thwaites of Bingley, Richard Harrison of Keighley, Sue Burrows from Elland, and Liam Cunningham of Wakefield.

Dr Young, 40, a GP at Tong Medical Practice, said: “St John were there so fast with the AED, they saved his life.

“They arrived with the AED and, despite the technical difficulty due to his position, they managed to put on the pads and got on with it.

“It was a real team effort.”

The operator of the AED was Mr Walton, 24, a healthcare assistant at Calderdale Hospital Cardiology Unit as well as a first-aider and youth leader for St John’s Shipley cadets.

He said: “I knew what I was doing and felt really calm.

“It seemed to take for ages but Mr Owens coughed and we could see he had started breathing again.”

After he had been resuscitated, Mr Owens was put into the recovery position as given oxygen until paramedics were on the scene

Bradford’s chief executive, Robbie Hunter-Paul, said that rugby players are often referred to as heroes, but in this case there was no doubt these life savers were the true heroes.

He said: “We're tremendously grateful to St John Ambulance and Dr Young for giving Mr Owens the immediate medical support needed to save his life.

“Without their training and skill, we may have lost a valued member of our community.

“They certainly deserve to be applauded by the crowd on Sunday and on behalf of the club, I give them my heartfelt thanks.”

The presentation will take place at half-time on the pitch at Odsal, during Bradford’s final home game of the season against Halifax RLFC on Saturday, September 26.

  • The match was originally scheduled for Sunday, September 27, but has been rearranged by Sky Sports to Saturday, September 26.