Army veteran Robert Park has always beaten the odds.

The 71-year-old from Scotland bravely operated a metal detector in order to try and find bombs during his military service and narrowly escaping death when insurgents launched a mortar attack on his base during the Aden conflict in 1965.

He’s never been in hospital, except for visiting sick relatives and friends so it was quite apt that the lucky widower was at his favourite Betfred bookies when he collapsed, suffering from a blackout…and staff were on hand to help save him before the 999 ambulance arrived.

“I dread to think what would’ve happened to me if I had not been putting a bet on. If I had have collapsed on the street or at home, I wouldn’t have got all the care and attention,” said Robert, from St Mary’s Court, Crossfield Road, Clacton-On-Sea.

When the father of two suddenly collapsed in the Betfred shop at nearby Pier Avenue, three staff members; Donna Dowler, Margaret Rodney and Brenda Underhay worked together to help one of their most loyal customers.

Margaret rang the emergency services and kept on the telephone, giving the operator details of Robert’s condition, whilst Donna comforted him and Brenda was busy relaying the operator’s advice.

Manager Margaret, a 66-year-old mother of four and grandmother of nine, said: “It had been a strange day, because another customer who is 99 had also collapsed and banged his head but Robert was much worse.

“The ambulance man couldn’t understand what was happening when he came back five hours later, but at least he knew the address! Robert was struggling to breathe and was in a lot of pain, he was going redder and redder and sweating profusely.”

Mother of one Donna, aged 44, a trainee at the shop said: “He was gritting his teeth and I told him he could swear if he wanted because I’ve given birth I knew it may help. He thought it might be a kidney infection so I was stroking his hand and trying to comfort him before the ambulance arrived around 30 minutes later.

“They gave him something for his blood pressure, and a painkilling injection. We were all very worried about Mr Park because he was obviously in a lot of pain.”

Ayrshire born Robert, took flowers into the shop to thank the three Fred Angels – a nickname they’ve picked up amongst customers after Betfred boss Fred Done rang up to compliment the trio on their quick thinking.

Boss Fred Done said: “I am so proud of Donna, Margaret, and Brenda, who worked together to help Robert. It proves once again that high-street bookies are part of the community and that’s something the general public, simply don’t understand.”

Robert said: “The girls were very absolutely brilliant, very efficient. I had a doctor’s appointment that afternoon but thought I’d call into Betfred, which I do two or three times a week. It was a good job I did because this could’ve been so much worse for me if the betting shop angels hadn’t come to my rescue.

“I spent the night at Colchester General Hospital and everyone said I was lucky that people were around to help me. You could say it was the luckiest day of my life, even though I didn’t win anything that day!”

Robert was a ‘boy soldier’ having joined up at 15. He served with the Royal Engineers in Germany and during the Aden conflict, rising from Sapper to Lance Corporal before retiring with a general service medal with clasp. He trained during his service as a carpenter and retired to the seaside at Clacton in Essex twelve years ago.

“I’ve had some hairy moments in the army, operating the metal detector and then there was the time the insurgents attacked our camp in Aden. They were aiming for our barracks, but the mortar bombs luckily went off 50 yards away.

“We were all asleep but got up soon enough, and used machine guns to repel the attack, that was my biggest brush with death, up until last month at Betfred when I had this blackout which the medical people say was caused by a severe chest infection.”