A Shropshire first aider who collapsed while playing badminton was saved by his friend.One of the first people on the scene after Kevin Brown suffered a heart attack was Russell Bill, his pal of 16 years.

Mr Bill, a community first responder, was attending a 999 call to the Severn Centre, Highley.

Mr Brown, also a community responder, had stopped breathing and his wife and two friends had already started giving him emergency treatment.

Mr Bill, 33, said today that despite the shock of finding his friend in a life threatening situation, he calmly applied defibrillator pads to restore Mr Brown’s heart beat.

“I’ve treated cardiac patients before, but it’s a real shock when the patient is your mate,” he said.

“The machine delivered the shock and a heart rhythm was restored. The ambulance crew arrived as he was breathing again on his own.”

Mr Brown, 46, was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford where he spent eight days before being transferred to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent.

He is now back at home and has resumed some of his first responder duties.

He said he was hoping to be able to start driving again soon and return to work for Bridgnorth Aluminium.

“To bring someone back from the dead is one of the greatest things a community first responder can do,” he said.

“I’m chairman of the Highley Badminton Club and I intend to play badminton again, but I’m in no rush to get back on court.”