A 42-year-old heart attack victim was today recovering at his Bradford home thanks to the life-saving actions of three electricity workers.

George Hudson collapsed on the fire escape of a London power station but first-aiders from the company rushed to resuscitate him. His heart stopped five times, but he has made a full recovery.

Mr Hudson said: "I really don't think I would be here today if it wasn't for the first aiders and the paramedics have said that too. It was like winning the lottery that day.

"I'd had no warnings. This sort of thing could happen to anyone at any time, but I was lucky to be near those three when it did. I cannot put into words what they have done for me."

The contract worker was on his first day of work with SEEBOARD Powerlink at the Lots Road power station, London, when he began to feel unwell with chest pains.

He went onto the fire escape to get some fresh air, while first aiders Brian Phillips and Martyn Newman alerted the company's occupational health adviser, Liz Eades, who happened to be on site.

She said: "When I saw him, I decided we needed an ambulance, which was called, and within a few minutes he collapsed and I realised he wasn't breathing and his heart had stopped.

"The three of us began resuscitation. It was a very difficult situation as it was very cramped on the fire escape, but nobody panicked. We just got on with it and the ambulance arrived very quickly.

"Mr Hudson was very lucky he was where he was when he was taken ill. Imagine what would have happened if he had suffered a heart attack on the drive down from Yorkshire."

Mr Hudson was rushed to hospital, where he spent three weeks before returning home.

He said: "You never know what's round the corner. All I can do is get better, change my lifestyle and make sure everyone realises how important first aid training is."

London Ambulance Service cardiac manager Mark Whitbread said: "First aid training is vital as Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation, administered promptly and correctly as in this case, increases the window of opportunity for the heart to be restarted by medical staff."