Lakeside heroes to the rescue

SHAKE my hand . . . Robert Dunn and daughter Emma thank Joe Ready, with the defibrillator

A DAUGHTER who watched her dad dying in front of her has praised the actions of two men who rushed to revive him.

Emma Dunn was walk round Hollingworth Lake with her sister Kelly and dad Robert (55) when he had a massive heart attack.

Luckily, they were near the Link4Life water activity centre and staff Gary Butler and Joe Ready ran over with a defibrillator and got his heart going again. They continued to help him until an air ambulance arrived.

“If it wasn’t for Joe and Gary my dad would not be here today. I can’t thank them enough,” said Emma (31), from Oldham.

“It was awful. We’d had a leisurely walk when dad just suddenly fell to the floor. My sister was screaming hysterically, we thought he’d had a stroke. We were so fortunate to be where we were and that they had a defibrillator. Without them my dad would have died.

“I also want to raise awareness about how vital defibrillators are and how they save lives. More places need to have them. You can’t put a price on a life. We’re so thankful.”

Emma’s dad had emergency surgery at Wythenshawe hospital and a week later was back home, recovering.

“I want to say a massive thank-you to Gary and Joe - from the bottom of my heart,” he said.

Lifesaver Joe said: “It was great to be able to help. I feel proud to have helped save someone’s life.”