A man’s life was saved by the heroic actions of a local resident in Port St Mary.

The incident happened at Patchwork cafe when customers were tucking into lunch.

’It was a superb, joyous, atmosphere - one of the best days ever in the cafe,’ said owner Rich Ashcroft. ’All of a sudden a really lovely old man (in his 90s) at table three went rigid and pale.’

Rich approached another customer, Zandra Preston, whom he knew had a medical background.

’I think it was fate I was there,’ she said. ’I picked up my son’s girlfriend and we were going to the Sound, at the last minute - we were at the crossroads about to go up the Howe - we went to Patchwork.

’Rich came over and said: "You have medical knowledge, there’s a gentleman who is not well."

’I thought it might be a reaction to the food or something. He was dead in his chair!

’People helped me get him onto the floor, he was not breathing, he had no pulse, we needed to do CPR, another man - a first aider [who has not been identified[ - did CPR I did mouth to mouth.

’He came back after two minutes. It all took around five minutes The ambulance took 25 minutes to arrive. I kept talking to him and reassuring him to make an assessment he was not going off again.

’You go into a different mode, people [other customers[ just went quiet. I’m manager at Abbotswood [care home[ and was a staff nurse at Noble’s Hospital.

’It’s different when you are in the community. I was quite pleased I could respond in that way, you never know how you’ll be until you’re in the situation, it is gratifying. I visited him in hospital the next day and he was grateful.

’In 80% of cases (CPR resuscitation) are not successful. I was pleased and quite humbled by the experience, everyone clapped when I sat down.

’I thought "please don’t". In hospital you have a team and equipment, in the community you have to do your best. Afterwards I wanted to cry, I was exhausted.’

Rich said: ’I’m so grateful to her of course because she saved his life but also you could you imagine the scene if he passed away in front of so many families and friends. Plus, she was so professional under pressure.

’It was just amazing how she revived and stabilised this gentleman and then talked calmly with him, whilst holding his hand reassuringly until the ambulance arrived. She really was a legend, amazing in fact.’

Rich doesn’t know the name of the man who helped and performed CPR.

He also praised the staff. He said: ’The two Ciaras working front of house in the caff really pulled together like a real team helping with blankets, making space for the casualty, securing alternative evacuation routes and a space outside for the ambulance.’

Rich added the incident highlighted the importance of learning first aid and, since the incident which happened on September 2, he has signed up for St John Ambulance training for himself and the staff. He’s also discussing with Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation getting a defibrillator in the cafe.

He said it also has raised the issue of the local authority’s defibrillator, which is in the town hall, so inaccessible when the building is closed. Rich, who is a commissioner, said the authority will discuss it at their meeting next week. there are plans to have one permanently accessible as part of the Manxonia development, the high street building bought by the authority.