Richard Williams

"I OWE my life to them."

John Waters, who suffered a massive heart attack at the side of a football pitch, has hailed Rusthall twins James and Jeff Harrison as heroes for giving him critical first aid which saved his life.

The pair, 21, both retained firefighters at Rusthall Fire Station, were reunited with Mr Waters this week.

The brothers, of Hill View Road, instinctively sprang into action when Mr Waters – the manager of Rusthall Football Club Fourths – collapsed and stopped breathing on the touchline of a match in Paddock Wood.

Mr Waters, 54, said: "It was marvellous what they did. I make a bit of a joke that I won't travel anywhere now without a couple of firemen with me.

"They kept me ticking over before the paramedics got there. They instinctively took over and obviously their fire training saved the day – literally."

The brothers put him on his back, opened his airways, gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and carried out chest compressions until paramedics arrived.

The father-of-two, who is an engineer for Sevenoaks company QinetiQ, was airlifted to Maidstone hospital and spent 10 days in intensive care.

He is now making a steady recovery at his home in Wallace Close, and is thankful to still be alive.

"At the hospital they made it quite plain to me that I was lucky to come through it. I've been told everything went right and everybody did what they were supposed to do.

"I owe my life to all of them – James and Jeff, the paramedics, the doctors at the hospital and the surgeon.

"It knocked the stuffing out of me really.

"Thank God I was on the football pitch and not somewhere else where I wouldn't have been able to get help quickly."

Doctors have not yet found out what caused the heart attack.

"Why it happened we are not sure. They haven't found anything drastically wrong with me," Mr Waters said. "At the moment I'm waiting for somebody to tell me what happened, which is quite unnerving. I'll be happier when I know."

The match, on April 4, was abandoned and rearranged for Saturday last week.

Rusthall won 3-0 with Mr Waters' son David, 22, getting his name on the score sheet and with the win, they won the league title.

Mr Waters added: "I'm really proud of the team for winning the league. They rang me on Saturday before the game to keep me involved and rang me after to let me know."

"I don't remember anything about the day at all. I don't even remember getting up in the morning. The last memories I've got are from the night before. Bearing in mind they are both friendly with my son, it must have been strange for them when it is one of their friend's fathers.

"I've been told I was running around and kicking the ball like normal before the game.

"I don't smoke and I'm pretty fit. Quite a few people were surprised.

"I've had lots of cards and best wishes from people.

"I just got up one Saturday morning and did what I'd normally do.

It is very good that Paddock Wood held the game at the end of the season and changed venues.

"I'm meant to be completely resting for six to eight weeks at home. Then go back to Maidstone hospital to see the consultant. I've also got to go to one of the London hospitals to have tests.

"It won't be for at least another three months before I'm up and jumping around. I'm on medication and my instructions are to take it very easy. My body will tell me when I'm ready to do more.

"I'm just in the beginning of getting better. It is early days yet.

"I'm trying to think forward not backwards.

"I feel better than I did a week ago.