Runner reunited with doctors who saved him after collapse

Mr Williams was given the chance to meet the doctors after making an appeal on BBC Breakfast

A military veteran who had a cardiac arrest whilst out running has told the off-duty doctors who saved him he would "always be indebted" to them.

Fitness instructor Grant Williams had been training for a marathon with friends when he collapsed on a Liverpool street on 9 March.

Dr Mel Hamilton and Dr Joe Clarkson, who happened to be nearby, rushed to give the 52-year-old first aid, before leaving him in the care of paramedics.

He was given the chance to meet them after making an appeal for them to come forward on BBC Breakfast and tearfully told them they had given him "a second chance".

Mr Williams said he had been jogging along Smithdown Road when he collapsed.

“I was out to do a 12-mile run in prep for the London marathon," he said.

“We stopped after 11 miles for a picture with the group, like we always do.

"Fifteen minutes down the road, [I was in] complete darkness."

'Another go'

Jane Nicholson, who was running with Mr Williams, said what happened next was a "miracle of miracles".

“As he stopped breathing, a lady came past and threw her bike down and it turns out she was a doctor," Ms Nicholson said.

“And then as if by magic, another one appears and starts to help with the CPR.

"It was just amazing.

“Someone was looking down on us that day definitely.”

Dr Hamilton, who was on her bike, and Dr Clarkson, who had been getting his hair cut in a nearby barbers, performed CPR until an ambulance arrived.

Mr Williams was taken to hospital and went on to have a quadruple heart bypass.

Mr Williams said he would "always be indebted to everyone" who helped to save him

After recovering, he asked BBC Breakfast to help him track down the pair, as he wanted to "say thank you face-to-face".

The doctors saw his appeal and got in touch, leading to an emotional reunion in a park near where Mr Williams collapsed.

Dr Clarkson said he had not been sure that Mr Williams would survive and had been "over the moon" when he heard the runner had recovered.

"It was an immense feeling, [as] it had been playing on my mind every day," he said.

Dr Hamilton added that it had been "nice to finally have an answer on what happened".

Mr Williams said the experience had given him a new perspective on life.

"I think it makes you realise there are so many nice people out there," he said.

“I’ve never been a big believer when people say it's not your time, but I clearly get that now.

"I’m meant to have another go definitely, which I’m going to take advantage of."