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Labour's Andy Burnham helped save the life of a man who had a heart attack outside Manchester's town hall.

The Manchester Mayor rushed to get a defibrillator and called 999 after a 73-year-old collapsed on Monday, January 8.

But he insists he was just a ‘bit part player’ and said the real credit should go to the army reservist who carried out CPR on the man to revive him.

He said: “Robyn who took control of the situation, she was truly amazing.

“My first thought was to get a defibrillator as I have been involved in local campaigns to provide them.

“So I ran into Manchester Town Hall and want to thank the staff at the front desk who supplied it within seconds.”

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The patient, who did not wish to be named, was then taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary by paramedics, where he underwent a quadruple bypass.

The operation was successful and he is doing ‘remarkably well’, his wife said. He's since been discharged from hospital and is back at home.

The man was visiting on business from Kent at the time and was off to catch the train after a morning meeting when he collapsed.

His wife has praised the quick thinking actions of those who came to his aid.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

She said: “It was such an extraordinary event. It’s so important that people understand how important CPR and defibrillators are.

“Only 20 per cent of people who have an out of hospital heart attack survive – he was very lucky.

“We are so grateful for the excellent care and great kindness of the staff – at all levels – in the Cardiac Care Unit of the MRI.

“My husband was always fond of doing the Times crossword puzzle. Four days after the operation he was back doing them.”

Mr Burnham said the case highlights the need for more defibrillators to be installed across the region.

He said: “I can’t describe how wonderful it was to hear from the man’s wife a few days after telling me that he was making a recovery.

“It makes me think that we should have public defibrillators in communities across Greater Manchester and an open public register of them. As Mayor, I intend to work to make that happen - they really do save lives.”

An NWAS spokeswoman said: “We got a call at 1.30pm and took a man, who was in a serious condition, to Manchester Royal Infirmary.”