PRESENTER Ted Robbins, whose heart stopped on stage during a performance of Phoenix Nights, has given a ‘heartfelt thanks’ to the paramedic who saved his life.

Ted, who lives in Crawshawbooth, spoke to ‘Gary’, who wants to stay ‘out of the limelight’, during his first show back on BBC Radio Lancashire since he collapsed.

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The comedian said: “Thank you, and thank you to all the paramedics who do such a great job. There are not many people you say thank you to with such heartfelt emotion.”

Gary said it was fate he was at the Phones4U Arena in Manchester the night Ted took ill at the end of January.

He had not planned to be there, but was giving his sister and brother-in-law a lift and decided to get a ticket. He was originally meant to be sat far away from the stage, but managed to get closer to the front in the interval.

Gary said: “It was all a bit surreal. The first 10 minutes of the second half, you had a bit of a funny turn. You hit your head on the stage so I knew it was real.”

“I said to my sister, that is real, I am going to have to go and then I just kind of barged my way to the front.”

Gary administered CPR, breaking 12 of Ted’s ribs and cracking his sternum, but helping to save his life.

The paramedic, who was an army medic before joining the ambulance service, encouraged everybody to learn to give CPR.