A cricket-playing para-medic told how he brought his medical experience into play to save the life of a fellow team member who collapsed on the pitch with a heart attack.

A cricket-playing para-medic told how he brought his medical experience into play to save the life of a fellow team member who collapsed on the pitch with a heart attack.

Satinder Dewan had just finished bowling for Barney in the match against Cromer when he fell to the ground and twice stopped breathing.

Fortunately, Barney wicketkeeper Shaun Baker immediately put his training into action and with the help of other players managed to revive Mr Dewan twice before he was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Mr Dewan, 65, a former maths teacher at Fakenham High School, is recovering from a heart attack in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where his condition is described as “stable”.

The drama unfolded on Sunday afternoon in the match as Mr Dewan had just completed a spell of bowling.

According to witnesses, he just turned around and fell to the ground and some players thought he was messing about.

Mr Baker, who has worked for the ambulance service for 10 years, said Mr Dewan's heart had stopped and he had stopped breathing.

“There was a period when that rectified itself and then went away again,” said Mr Baker, 40.

“I had some basic kit in my car and my wife Julie, who is also a paramedic, helped as well.

“One of the home team was giving the chap chest compressions.”

He said that although the drama seemed to go on forever, it lasted about 15 minutes.

“I feel that if I saw him now I would want to give him a cuddle and I would cry because we see a lot of people whom we never see again.

“We had been talking while we were playing cricket and he was bowling his last ball to me and then it happened. I had only met him a short time before because it was only my third game,” he said.

“We put a bag valve mask on his face and the air was pumped into the patient and others were doing the chest compressions. The more people you have got to help you the better, because it then allows you to do the actual professional bit,” he said

“With no heart beat and no breathing he was dead, so we had to take over and, using our equipment, do his breathing for him and massage his heart so that it kept pumping the blood around the body. At one point we thought we had lost him,” said Mr Baker.

Mr Baker said that it was very much a team effort with players on both sides giving assistance. The match was abandoned.

“We didn't perform very well in the field, but, as far as teamwork is concerned for Mr Dewan, people got stuck in and were more than willing to help and that was great. I am looking forward to seeing him again and shaking his hand,” said

Mr Baker.

Colin King, chairman of the Mid Norfolk Sunday Cricket League, described Mr Dewan as a popular member of the club.

“He lives for his cricket and is a lovely guy. I know all his fellow club players and members wish him well,” he said.

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said:

“From time to time,

off-duty paramedics

do find they are in situations where their life-saving skills are called upon and Mr Baker was able to save the patient while waiting for back-up to arrive. Off-duty or on, paramedics will always go to the aid of someone who needs their

help.”