Villagers, friends and emergency service workers joined forces to give lifesaving treatment to a teenage girl who collapsed in a cardiac arrest.

Grace, now 16, was running through a field on the Isle of Grain, near Rochester, when she suddenly became ill and fell to the ground.

Her quick-thinking pal Kavan put her in the recovery position and called both his and Grace’s mum for help.

Realising she was unresponsive, they called 999 and somebody they knew who worked at the village fire station while carrying out CPR.

The fire service’s Paul Cook said: “Sarah (Kavan’s mum) called me on my mobile and before I could speak, she immediately shouted down the phone at me to bring the station defibrillator as a 15-year-old girl had collapsed in the fields.”

Sarah spoke to an emergency medical advisor coach with 29 years’ experience, Tina Shepherd who guided them on what to do before crews arrived.

Tina said: “As an EMA we’re ears on and not eyes on. I could hear a lot of distress and chaos in the background but completely zoned out to that and listened intently to Sarah’s description.

I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people that were involved in saving Grace

”In these situations, it is pivotal that good-quality CPR is given immediately, and I was so impressed by Sarah that she was able to carry this out successfully.”

Kent Fire and Rescue Service colleagues arrived and assisted with floodlighting, coverings and the station defibrillator. Together they were able to shock Grace once.

Grace’s mum Clare said: “I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people that were involved in saving Grace. We all now have this special bond.”

After being stabilised, Grace was taken to King’s College Hospital in London.

Sarah added: “It was only when the fire and ambulance crews took over that I stood back and looked behind me at the sheer number of people involved in getting Grace help.

“It really was unbelievable, and I’ll never forget that day.”

Grace woke from sedation on Mother’s Day, before being transferred to the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London where she was finally discharged 16 days later on March 22.

Grace said: “I can’t remember anything from the day which is probably for the best. It was overwhelming to meet those who were involved in my care and I’m so thankful to them.”

Following various tests, it has been revealed that Grace has that rare RYR2 gene which triggers the cardiac muscle to contract, which pumps blood out of the heart.

Grace’s family are now all being tested for this gene. As part of her recovery, Grace has had a defibrillator and pacemaker fitted which alerts her to potential abnormalities.

Clare said: “It really took a village to help Grace that night and I am so proud of everyone involved and can’t thank them enough.”

Tina said: “I was so humbled to have the opportunity to meet Grace.

“It truly was a shining example of teamwork and I’m so proud of everything that was done in order for Grace to be here with us today.

“It’s when we switch off and go home after our shift that we really begin to think about the outcome of a patient, and it was quite amazing for me to be able to meet Sarah, Clare and Grace, and put faces to their names.”

Grace is now at college studying art and graphic design and hopes to become a tattoo artist in the near future.