PARAMEDIC Steve Shimmin answered a 999 call to help save a man's life only to find his wife had beaten him to it.

And Steve (36) from Bury, was doubly shocked to find the patient was his friend and neighbour Andy Loynes.

The double coincidence occurred after marketing executive Andy, also aged 36, keeled over from a heart attack after taking his children to school.

Steve, who lives behind Andy's Nelson Street home, got the 999 call minutes after 9am on September 27 and raced in his rapid response vehicle to the casualty's aid.

In the meantime, Steve's wife Julie, a dental nurse, had also got a call for help from a concerned neighbour and dashed to the scene. She was already administering first aid when Steve arrived. Together the husband and wife team worked on Andy whose heart had stopped and brought him back to life. Steve, who has been with Greater Manchester Ambulance Service for 14 years and has been qualified as a paramedic for six years, has been working as a rapid response paramedic for the last three months.

He said: "A call suddenly came for me to attend a man who had been found collapsed on a pavement, only about one minute's drive from me.

"When I arrived I saw a group of people standing around a man lying on the ground but I was amazed to see my wife among the group, giving first aid to the casualty.

"As soon as Julie saw me she shouted 'Steve, hurry up, it's Andy!' That's when I realised that it was my friend and neighbour who had collapsed."

Andy's had gone into cardiac arrest and despite Julie's attempts at CPR, his heart was not beating.

The pair continued to work on Andy as a second ambulance crew made their way to the scene.

Steve said: "I proceeded to shock Andy three times before we finally got a pulse. Andy began to breath for himself."

The ambulance arrived and, with Steve on board, Andy was taken to Fairfield General Hospital and then transferred to Trafford General Hospital.

Now recovering at home, Andy has nothing but praise for Steve and Julie's actions.

He said: "They saved my life.

"I must say that everybody has been great. I was very well looked after in hospital and I couldn't have hoped for better treatment."

Father of two Andy said that he has not memory of the events that unfolded after he suffered the heart attack.

Steve, who has three children, added: "It puts a whole new aspect on resuscitating a patient when the patient is somebody your close to.

"I've known Andy for four years and we have been on holiday together with our families. Julie and I are just pleased that he pulled through."

Andy said: "Now I'm feeling very well I've begun to go back to work although I am taking it easy."