Dorothy Penman would probably have preferred not to have had a heart attack as she flew towards America's Sunshine State at 36,000ft.

But she was glad medical help was on hand. She would have been quite happy if just one doctor had sprinted down the airplane aisle to her aid; she certainly was not expecting 15 cardiologists to form an orderly queue.

"When the cabin crew put out an announcement to ask if there was a doctor on board, lights started appearing above seats all over the plane," said Mrs Penman yesterday.

"There were so many of them that many went and sat down again because they were not needed. I think there were about five of them with me."

Mrs Penman, 67, from Anfield in Liverpool, had fortunately reserved a seat on a flight to Florida that was also carrying a collection of cardiologists to a conference in Orlando. "You couldn't believe it, could you? Someone up there likes me."

Mrs Penman, who had had no history of heart trouble, was also heading to Orlando to see her daughter Christine marry her fiance Gareth.

The couple had accompanied her flying from Manchester to Philadelphia. "We had a two-hour wait there to catch another flight to Orlando," she said. "We were queuing for customs and everything, and the time was getting on. When we finished we had to run to another terminal, and suddenly I had this terrible pain in my back and across my chest.

"I thought it was just indigestion, and we boarded the plane. Once in the air, I went into a full-blown heart attack. I had terrible pains in my chest and down my arm and was sweating. It was horrendous."

That was when the cabin staff sought help and the 15 cardiologists answered. The chosen team rigged up a drip and gave other treatment to their patient, telling the crew to land as soon as possible. "The nearest place was Charlotte, North Carolina. They had an ambulance waiting, and we went through all the red lights."

Mrs Penman had emergency surgery and stayed in hospital for four days. "The wedding was the next day, so I begged and begged the doctors to let me out. The bride and groom were with me, but all our clothes had gone on to Orlando." She made it to the lakeside ceremony in a wheelchair.

"The doctors on the plane saved my life. I know they were Americans, but otherwise I don't know who they were." Mrs Penman has made a good recovery and is now waiting for an appointment with a British heart specialist.