'I had a heart attack without even knowing'

A woman who had a heart attack without knowing has thanked an ambulance crew who rushed her to hospital, saying: "They saved my life."

Janice Nuttall, from Great Bookham, Surrey, dialled 111 for advice after getting some chest pain and feeling short of breath.

Janice said she was not in a lot of pain, adding: "I thought if it was a heart attack I would be clutching my chest and rolling around on the floor."

Paramedic Imogen Baldock, who came to Janice's aid along with colleague Gabor Lajos, said women's heart attack symptoms could be less obvious than men's and easier to miss.

"For us ladies, we can have much subtler signs of a heart attack," added Imogen.

"Chalk it up to clinician's gut. I just had a feeling that something wasn't quite right."

Janice's husband Brian said: "The actions of this amazing paramedic probably saved my wife's life, as from Epsom she was 'blue lighted' to St George's Hospital, where a team of six people were waiting for her and she had a stent and a balloon fitted at 1.30am in the morning."

St George's confirmed Janice had had a severe heart attack, but because of early intervention had only suffered 3% heart muscle damage.

This month the couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary to mark 60 years of marriage.

Janice said: "I am in no doubt they saved my life. Without them, I don't think I would have been here to have the anniversary."

She met Gabor and Imogen again at Banstead ambulance station.

Janice said: "I will never be able to thank them enough. It was my lucky day when they arrived."

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