A LORRY driver who 'died' of a heart attack -- but was then brought back to life came face-to-face with the two paramedics who saved him.

Desmond Barlow, a 49-year-old divorced father-of-three, suffered a massive coronary while at work.

He fell to the ground as his workmates at the logistics company Christian Salverson, off Warrington Road, in Leigh, looked on in horror.

Mr Barlow dialled 999 and was rushed to the Royal Bolton Hospital but on the way there his heart stopped beating.

Paramedics Mike Bindon and Arthur Morris frantically battled to save him.

And seconds after he "died", they used a defibrillator and managed to bring him back to life.

Mr Barlow later asked if he could meet the two ambulancemen in a bid to personally thank them.

He travelled to Wigan ambulance station where he presented the pair with crystal tankards bearing the names of his life-savers.

He said: "Since I had the heart attack on December 20 last year, I've never had a chance to thank the paramedics. It's only a job to them, but it's life to me and I wanted the chance to say something.

"It was such a shock at the time. I could have been anybody but the paramedics used their expertise and immense professionalism to save my life.

"I remember asking them not to let me die. They said they would never let that happen and they kept their word."

Former nightclub doorman Mr Barlow, who lives in Scholes, Wigan, had been unloading boxes from his lorry just minutes before the attack.

He has since lost his HGV licence, although he is still employed by Christian Salvesen and is hoping to return to work soon.

Mr Barlow, who weighed 18 stone at the time of the incident, has since lost two and a half stone but he is still feeling the effects of the attack and takes 10 pills each day.

Talking about the moment he "died", he said: "It was such a peaceful time. I had drifted away, forgetting my problems and the pain of the coronary. But then I suddenly came back to life."

John Burnside, Greater Manchester Ambulance chief executive, said: "We are glad we were able to arrange this meeting for Mr Barlow. Our crews work very hard every day and their efforts are sometimes unsung.

"It is extremely heart warming for us when a member of the public expresses their thanks in such a nice way."