Two hospital staff saved a man’s life when he suffered a heart attack at the wheel of his car - and they were in traffic behind him.

Peter Rabbatts, 62, of Grove Green, was driving to work through Wateringbury on Wednesday, July 1, when he collapsed at the wheel while at the traffic lights.

But when his car didn’t pull away when the lights changed, Helen Stevens, a paediatric oncology nurse, and occupational therapist, Chloe Joseph, who were both in vehicles behind, ran to help him.

He had no pulse and wasn’t breathing, so Helen began CPR, supported by Chloe, with a member of the public ringing the emergency services.

As Chloe took over the chest compressions a few minutes later, the hospital trust’s medical director, Paul Sigston, also was passing and stopped to help.

Once the ambulance crew arrived, he helped as Mr Rabbatts was taken to Maidstone Hospital.

"It was nothing short of miraculous how circumstances ensured that Peter received the best treatment possible..." - Peter Rabbatts' wife Jane

Mr Rabbatts said: "The last thing I can remember from Wednesday is waiting at the traffic lights. The next thing I remember is waking up in hospital and being told that I’d suffered a heart attack."

His wife, Jane, said: "It was nothing short of miraculous how circumstances ensured that Peter received the best treatment possible when he suffered a heart attack - what were the chances of there being two health professionals in cars behind Peter, who had both been trained in CPR and who were both prepared to perform resuscitation whilst waiting for the ambulance?

"Then, you throw in the presence of the trust’s medical director, and the miracle is complete!"

Mr Rabbatts added: "My survival is down to them."

Another passer-by, also on his way to work, stopped to help and used first aid training, which he had from his work as Special Constable.

Mr Sigston added: "It is at moments like this that one appreciates why everyone should be trained in basic life support."