Comedian Simon: 'I was dead for two minutes'

'GUARDIAN ANGELS' RESTARTED HEART OF 52-YEAR-OLD

- By CHRISTOPER ADAMS, CHRIS SLATER

A TEESSIDE comedian who suffered a cardiac arrest moments before taking to the stage has admitted he owes his life to three quick-thinking "guardian angels" who brought him back from the brink of death.

In an unlikely twist of fate, when funnyman Simon Cain arrived at hospital, he discovered his nurse was someone he had playfully mocked during another performance just a fortnight before. The 52-year-old, from Stockton, was preparing to deliver an after-dinner speech alongside former Manchester City boss Brian Horton on October 10. But whilst Brian was on stage, Simon began feeling unwell.

As he got to his feet to step outside for some fresh air, he collapsed and 'slid down the wall,' reports the Manchester Evening News. An off-duty nurse was amongst three people who rushed to help and discovered his heart had stopped beating.

They dialled 999 and immediately started CPR. Within approximately two minutes, they successfully restarted Simon's heart.

"The next thing I remember was opening my eyes and someone shouting 'we've brought him back,'" Simon said. "They were telling the call operator. I was very groggy and pretty out of it at that stage so I didn't really know what had gone on."

Roughly five minutes later, about eight minutes after the emergency call, paramedics arrived.