A father who was clinically dead for 18 minutes after suffering a cardiac arrest says he owes his life to his young children.

Stuart Waters, 48, was driving the pair back from football practice when he suddenly fell ill.

Stuart's family describe the incident and thank everyone who helped him

He had pulled into his drive in Belfield Road, Pembury near Tunbridge Wells at 8pm one night when he suddenly collapsed at the wheel.

Sadie, 10 and Jude, seven were the only ones in the car with him and luckily did not panic and immediately sprang into action to get help.

Sadie said: "Before it happened, Dad said 'oh no it’s happened again' which we didn’t know what that meant so Jude stayed in the car."

Jude continued: "Sadie ran to the door to get mum who was in the bath and I stayed in the car to see if dad was OK but he didn’t reply."

While in the car, Jude took the initiative to unclip his father's seatbelt; something he learnt to do from a YouTube video.

Wife Leanne, 38, then pieced the rest together after she was made aware of what happened.

She said: "I ran out to get some help and two ladies, Emma and Gemma, came out. They got Stuart out of the car and did CPR in the road.

"Then the emergency respondents came and everyone was working on him for ages.

"They wanted to put him in a coma and take him to King’s College Hospital in London because he wasn’t responding as they had hoped but they put him in the back of an ambulance and continued to work on him as they took him to Pembury hospital.

"They weren't sure for the next few days what was going to happen because his brain had been staved of oxygen and they were worried about brain damage.

"Luckily the scans showed everything was OK and it would just take a little time for his memory to come back."

Both Sadie and Jude recollected how they felt at the time of the incident.

Sadie said: "I was confused but also scared at the same time because I didn't know what was happening or what to do so I just ran to the house and began knocking on the door."

Jude added: "I was really confused because I didn't know what happened, scared and a bit sad."

Despite what Stuart muttered in the car, this was his first cardiac arrest.

"At the end of the day they helped save my life so I owe them big time..."

His heart had fully stopped and was clinically dead for 18 minutes.

Stuart said: "The police officer there at the time said that, in that situation, the likelihood of surviving was one in 10 but thankfully I was the one."

He was in hospital for eight weeks and is currently in his fifth week of recovery. He has had two operations since, with the second implanting a mini defibrillator into his chest.

The incident, on March 1, has also left Stuart unable to work in his role as a lorry driver as he had his licence taken from him.

He said: "Work have said there will be a job for me but of what capacity we're not sure because the DVLA take you lorry driver licence away.

"It goes back to assessing what shape I'm in and what it is possible to work as."

Now back at home, Stuart is unable to recollect the events but says he owes his life to his children and everyone who helped his recovery.

He said: "It’s never something you want your kids to see but it’s a very proud moment - obviously for the wrong reasons - but I am so proud of them and couldn’t ask for better kids.

"At the end of the day they helped save my life so I owe them big time.

"I don't quite think the kids quite realise the full extent of what happened, they just did what came naturally to them, but I think deep down they do know what an incredible thing they have done."

On May 22, police officers Sgt Joe Breen and PC Steven Shipley presented Sadie and Jude with a Schools Team Certificate of Resillience and a gift bag containing bottles and sweets, for their bravery.

The family extended their thanks to everyone who helped on the day of the incident.

Stuart said: "A big thank you goes to the neighbours, Emma and Gemma especially, who performed CPR, and our other neighbours that helped.

"Thanks to my wife and kids, the emergency services, work has helped me and the football team too; as well as the kids' school, Skinners' Kent Primary."