A FRIZINGTON man was in the right place at the right time when he suffered a cardiac arrest and ‘died’ while on a routine visit to his doctor.

The life of Ronald Benn, 77, was saved when the staff at Distington doctor’s surgery sprung into action and administered CPR.

Mr Benn, of Dean Close, has since undergone a triple heart-bypass at Middlesbrough and has made a good recovery, though still suffers considerably with arthritis, his reason for visiting the doctor’s that day.

The grandfather-of-eight said: “If I hadn’t been in the surgery, I’d have been a goner!”

Now friends and family have raised £500 to donate to the Hinnings Road surgery in gratitude for saving Ronald’s life.

His wife Pat explained how in September 2013 Ronald, accompanied by their daughter Dorothy, was being seen by senior partner Dr Eric Bater, while she, Pat, saw the nurse.

“The doctor asked him to go into the nurse’s room to take his blood and on the way he told Dorothy he needed to sit down.

“They got him onto the bed in the nurse’s room and then he was gone – he died. Dr Bater came running in, and the nurses Julie (Howorth) and Louise (Ridley). They worked on him and gave him an injection and got his heart going again.

“He was then taken by ambulance to West Cumberland Hospital, then over to Middlesbrough. His heart was starting to drop again in the ambulance, it was a good job the paramedics were there.

“He has suffered with arthritis for a long time but never had any trouble with his heart. It was all a shock and thankfully Ronald was in the right place when it happened.

“We are very grateful to the surgery – they’ve given me my husband back.”

Mrs Benn is also grateful to Muriel Gilpin of Arlecdon post office who has been a key organiser of fund-raising events, including a bingo session and a raffle.

The family will present a cheque to the surgery on August 5.