As firefighter Mark Jones sat down with his family to enjoy a curry, he was unaware the next thing he'd remember would be waking up in hospital four days later.

The father-of-two's heart stopped for 15 minutes after he collapsed during a match at Canterbury Rugby Club.

He only survived after three spectators used the club's defibrillator in a desperate attempt to keep him alive.

Their efforts proved vital as the 48-year-old was taken to Ashford's William Harvey Hospital and placed in an induced coma.

After being brought round, he was released six days after the heart attack and was quick to thank the trio who saved his life.

The tree surgeon, who is a watch manager at Canterbury fire station, said: "I don't remember anything and have no recollection of what happened. The last I knew I was having a curry with my family on Saturday night and then I woke up in hospital."

Mark had to come off 20 minutes into the Sunday end-of-season friendly match after feeling unwell.

He then collapsed by the side of the pitch, with bystanders unable to feel a pulse.

Kate White, the wife of Mark's teammate Tony and a night sister at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, started CPR with opposition player Paul Donovan.

Mark said: "Paul cleared my airways, which were blocked, and then a man called Ian Hodges pressed the buttons to shock me. They shocked me two times and brought me back to life.

"It has been a very emotional few days learning who did what as I have no recollection.

"I am eternally grateful. I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved with the rugby club."

Mark, who has played for the club for more than 25 years, was shocked three more times by paramedics before he was taken to hospital.

His wife Jo and son Ben, 15, were among the 400-strong crowd when he collapsed.

Mark said: "My son was working behind the hog roast when someone asked him to get the defibrillator.

"As he made his way down to where I was he was told to go away, but he saw my knee brace and recognised who it was."

Jo said the moment she discovered her husband had collapsed was the most terrifying of her life, saying the shock brought her to a standstill.

She said: "It was the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. I couldn't believe what has happening. I couldn't fully realise the gravity of the situation."

Mark said Mr Donovan visited him in hospital on the day he woke from his coma.

He said: "It was a very emotional reunion. He told me I had been going blue and already started to go cold.

"He broke five of my ribs doing CPR, but I told him it's a small price to pay to keep on living.

"He told me he was going to keep going until someone stopped him."

Mark is putting his feet up at home after having a stent fitted to clear a blockage in an artery, but he hopes to return to firefighting duties soon.

He said: "It has been a very surreal experience and it does make you readress the balance. I've come to realise there are more important things in life and to enjoy family, friends and the quality of life because it is so fragile."