'I watched my husband die several times'

Mr Towers said his heart stopped and started about four to five times

A woman whose husband "died several times" at Birmingham Airport before his life was eventually saved is urging people to book a heart screening.

In April, Chris Towers, 67, from Ledbury, Herefordshire suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed as he sat in the departure lounge and had to be revived by a police officer and two medics as his heart stopped on four or five occasions.

Seven months later, his wife Libby Towers, 64, hopes she can set an example by getting a heart scan with Wales-based charity Calon Hearts, which is offering free and subsidised heart screenings.

Ms Towers said: "I'd urge anybody in the Ledbury area to take up this wonderful opportunity offered by Calon Hearts."

The screenings will take place at Lebury RFC on Saturday, which will be the first-time the charity has operated in England.

The heart screenings will be free to young people between the ages of 16 and 25 with a follow up ECG, a test that records the electrical activity of a heart, if needed.

People aged 26 or over can pay for a subsidised heart screening which costs £299.

'A price worth paying'

Libby Towers watched her husband Chris Towers suffer a cardiac arrest at an airport before being revived

Explaining why she had booked in, Ms Towers said: "I've booked in for a heart screening because what happened to Chris made me appreciate just how important detecting any hidden heart issues is.

"Chris was flatlining for 47 minutes on and off, he died several times, but thanks to the lifesaving efforts of others, he is one of the lucky ones.

"We cannot be be sure, but screening might have prevented Chris' heart stopping and the hugely reduced cost of a screening offered by Calon Hearts is a price worth paying in our experience."

Mr Towers said he was "extremely fortunate" to still be alive.

"There was a police officer at the airport trained in CPR who started to save my life straight away, closely followed by two medics who happened to be at the airport," he recalled.

"The ambulance took 47 minutes to arrive, and CPR was applied for the duration, which was amazing as my heart stopped and started about four to five times.

"I am so glad Libby has decided to have a heart screening this weekend with Calon Hearts. From first hand experience, I know just how important that is."