Lorraine Fowler’s sixth sense that something was not quite right probably saved her husband’s life.

Former policeman Paul had got up early to pick up his grandson and Mrs Fowler would usually have just turned over and gone back to sleep. But a sense of unease made her get up and look for her husband.

She found him lying on the floor of the living room at their home in Hoo, looking blue and making “terrible breathing noises”. He had suffered a heart attack.

“I realised at once it was bad. We have both had first aid training as we are foster carers but even though we have had this training I never ever expected to have to do chest compressions,” Mrs Fowler said.

“I always thought I would just panic if something like that ever happened. I am not very calm normally.”

But Mrs Fowler did stay calm and called 999. With the support of 999 call handler Alison Culmer, she was able to immediately start CPR.

“That quick response saved Paul’s life,” said ambulance technician Kate Foster who was first on the scene with colleague Mark Wood and police medic Barry Rudden who had worked with Mr Fowler in the force.

Luckily for Mr Fowler the crew were already on the Peninsula dealing with another less critical call so were able to respond straight away.

Mr Rudden took over the chest compressions on his former colleague, as the crew were joined by clinical team leader Luke Hamilton, critical care paramedic Simon King and technician Claire Hewitt.

It took two shocks of a defibrillator to get Mr Fowler’s heart started again.

"That good CPR early on dramatically improved Paul’s chances,” said Mr King.

“It just showed how important it is to get CPR started as soon as possible. Time is the key to a good outcome as much as anything we can do.”

Mr Fowler was taken to Medway hospital where he spent a week in intensive care before being fitted with a pacemaker.

The 58-year-old grandad continues to make a good recovery since the incident and was recently reunited with the ambulance team who saved his life.

Mr King said: “We don’t always hear the outcomes from the calls we go to so it is a real boost to be able to meet up with Paul and his family.”