Holidaymaker saves comic telling a gag

A holidaymaker from Stourbridge saved the life of a comic who collapsed minutes after singing with a Black Country choir.

Prison van driver Guy Jackson, aged 64, revived comic and choir singer Eddie Stapleton three times before ambulance crews arrived.

Mr Stapleton, whose heart stopped during a church concert, has now made a full recovery and wishes to visit Mr Jackson to thank him face-to-face. Mr Jackson had been in the Welsh resort of Tenby.

He was with friends from Dudley's Gentlemen Songsters Male Voice choir.

The choir was staging a joint concert with the Tenby Male Voice Choir in May.

After the performance,the choirs went for a drink at Tenby's De Valance Pavilion.

During the night, retired carpet fitter Eddie Stapleton, a member of Tenby Male Voice, decided to take the microphone to entertain the crowd with his comic routine.

But following a joke, he suddenly keeled over crashing through an exit door.

Mr Jackson dashed over and immediately began trying to resuscitate 77-year-old Mr Stapleton who was slipping in and out of consciousness.

Mr Jackson says he learned his first aid skills as part of his day job where he transports prisoners across the country.

He said: "My initial reaction was that it couldn't be part of the monologue and I just ran forward. It was obvious he wasn't breathing and was turning blue. I just automatically started CPR.

"The training kicked in and I just got to work. Life is precious as far as I am concerned and I wasn't prepared to give in."

Fellow Gentleman Songsters choir member John Smith said: "Without doubt Guy saved his life. "

Mr Stapleton wants the opportunity to thank Mr Jackson in person. He said about Mr Jackson: "He was fantastic."

Mr Jackson was also praised by the paramedic Bryn Hazelden who said: "Eddie was lucky Guy was on hand as there is every chance he wouldn't be here now."