Life-saving act sealed runners' friendship

Peter Corr and Melissa Williams still meet up, more than six years after she saved his life when he collapsed in the street while on a run

Two runners who formed a bond after one saved the other's life six years ago have been talking about their lasting friendship.

Peter Corr, from Telford, suffered a cardiac arrest while out running in the town in September 2019 and was given life-saving CPR by Melissa Williams in the vital minutes before an ambulance arrived.

He sends her cupcakes each year to say thank you, and they meet for coffee and cake, as well as going on walks up the Wrekin together with his family, to watch the sun rise.

Ms Williams said meeting Mr Corr's wife and children for the first time was really emotional, because it was only then she fully appreciated the importance of her actions and what they meant to them.

They met again at the spot where Mr Corr collapsed in Wrockwardine Wood, to mark the sixth anniversary of that moment.

"It's strange, I've run past here quite a few times since and I've never stopped and I've run past it almost feeling defiant," he said.

Restart a heart day

They agreed to meet up at the site to help promote Restart A Heart Day, organised by Resuscitation Council UK.

The day aims to raise awareness of cardiac arrest and teach vital life-saving skills such as CPR and the use of defibrillators.

Mr Corr remembers very little of his collapse until he woke up in an ambulance and said the incident had been more upsetting for his wife, who he believes is still traumatised by what happened.

"She's the one that had the take phone calls from the ambulance service and then had to get everyone up and about in the house to come over to the hospital," he said.

Ms Williams, who learnt CPR at work, said she had second thoughts about stopping on that day, because at first she thought Mr Corr might have been drunk, but she is glad she did.

"When I was doing CPR I was kind of in the moment and it wasn't until I stepped back and I saw he had a wedding ring on that I was like 'Oh my gosh' where does his family think he is? How are they going to tell them?," she said.

Pete Corr said he had been past the spot where he collapsed a number of times, but had not stopped before

Ms Williams said her actions really hit home when she went for a coffee in the hospital with his family, while he was undergoing treatment.

"He's got two daughters and I just remember thinking he's going to walk them down the aisle some day, potentially because of what I've done," she said.

"That's where you see the ripple effect and the difference that you've made."

Mr Corr said he liked to see it as a positive experience, because it had ended well, but there was always going to be that "what if?" moment.

"What if Melissa had stayed in bed instead of going out for a run? Or what if I'd run a different route, Or what if I'd gone out five minutes later?," he asked.

The pair now support the registration of automated external defibrillators.