A dad reunited with the paramedics who saved his life after a heart attack at home says the incident has made him “re-evaluate” his life.

Ian Harris has even rekindled a relationship with one of his daughters who he hadn’t spoken to for more than ten years following the scare.

It comes after the attack which happened while the 52-year-old was washing his car at his home in Dartford.

Ian started to feel pain and discomfort in his hands, as well as coming over flustered and dizzy.

Through his many years of watching 999 programmes on TV with his family, Ian’s first thought was to go inside his home and lay down on a flat surface.

He raised his legs up on the bathroom sink and called 111 as initially, he didn’t realise he was suffering from a heart attack.

As his symptoms worsened, Ian called 999, and trainee associate ambulance practitioner Samantha Rees and paramedic Fran Brewer were luckily just around the corner from his address.

On arrival, Samantha and Fran quickly diagnosed Ian as having a severe heart attack and he was immediately taken to The William Harvey Hospital in Ashford for surgery and further medical treatment.

After spending two days in intensive care, Ian was then transferred to the hospital ward where he stayed for several further days to recover.

I am very lucky to be alive

It was only when he left the hospital, Ian realised how lucky he was.

“I didn’t realise the severity of the heart attack until I was back at home and reading through the paperwork,” he said.

“I am very lucky to be alive.”

Almost a year after the attack Ian, along with his wife, Kerry, daughter, Emily and son-in-law Colin, were reunited with the paramedics who saved his life at South East Coast Ambulance Service’s (SECAmb) ambulance station in Dartford.

Ian said the health scare had made him reevaluate his life and he had rekindled his relationship with one of his daughters who he had not spoken to for 14 years.

“The incident has really made me re-evaluate life and confirm what’s important to me,” he added. “For this, I am eternally grateful.”

Ian is still on his journey to a full recovery following the attack on May 20 last year.

He is now looking forward to taking a family trip to Spain.

Trainee associate ambulance practitioner Samantha enjoyed seeing her healthy patient again.

“When we received the many letters of gratitude from Ian’s family it brought me and Fran to tears,” she sad.

“We were over the moon to be seeing Ian again, and in such good health.”