A KARATE club member who was brought back from the dead hosted a 24-hour karate event to raise money for the people who saved his life.

Friends at Blackburn Budokwai karate club and members of charity Sliding Doors organised a sponsored 24-hour long training session at Mill Hill Community Centre, on New Chapel Street.

Peter Wilson, who helped to organise the event, suffered a heart attack in his home in Blackburn last December.

Paramedics from NHS Trust Ambulance Service were sent to the 55-year-old man’s home on Heys Lane.

The karate club member had to be resuscitated in the ambulance en route to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Mr Wilson said: “I suffered a massive heart attack. It effectively went like jelly.

“One paramedic saved me twice on the way to hospital.

“It was the professionalism of the paramedics that have kept me here today.”

Following the near death experience, the 55-year-old man wanted to do something to thank North West Ambulance Service for the treatment that saved him.

The member from Blackburn Budokwai karate club came up with the idea of setting up a 24-hour karatethon in order to raise money for a number of community groups, including the NHS trust service, charity Sliding Doors and Mill Hill community centre.

The event, which lasted from 10am on Saturday to 10am on Sunday, was attended by people from all across the United Kingdom, including two members currently in the British Karate Federation squad.

Pasq Mura, a former World and European karate champion, took part in the event alongside the karate club’s sensei Kevin Clark, who competes at international level.

Mr Wilson added: “The event was fairly unique. It was tough but what helped to get us through was the causes we were doing it for.

“It helped us to push through those barriers. We didn’t get much rest and had to keep pushing and pushing.

“It was definitely not a leisurely stroll. It was an incredible achievement though.

“I want to say thanks to everyone who took part and helped to organise it.”