A Sutton pensioner who had a heart attack while swimming in Cheam Baths has paid tribute to the men who saved his life.

Regular swimmer Lingam Arinesakingham, 78 suffered the cardiac arrest on February 7 and within seconds was fighting to stay afloat and alive.

Immediately noticing he was in distress Duty Manager Paul Yeats, 35 jumped in to the pool.

"I could see he was in difficulty," he said. "So I jumped in and got him to the side, and that's when Chris helped me hoist him up.

"He wasn't breathing so we started CPR".

Together Paul and service manager Chris Wells, 26 worked together to help save Mr Arinesakingham, who by this point had lost consciousness.

In the meantime fellow staff member Steve Bullworthy, 25 sounded the alarm, and dialled 999.

Mr Arinesakingham's wife Thangammah, who was watching from the side, descibed the whole experience as terrifying.

"The first I knew was when they sounded the alarm and everyone was getting out of the pool," said the 72-year-old. "I thought it was a fire alarm, but then I looked and saw them dragging my husband out of the water, I was so terrified."

But thankfully due to the skill and quick thinking of the centre's staff Mr Arinesakingham regained conciousness and within half an hour was on his way to St Helier hospital where he underwent triple heart by-pass surgery.

Now making a tenative return to full health he visited the centre to thank the men who saved his life.

"If not for the timely action taken by the amazingly proficient and courageous staff," he added. "I would not be alive today.

"They deserve my highest praise and deepest admiration".

Centre manager Peter Flanagan added all staff receive regular training from GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited) to help them deal with emergency situations.

"They are very humble," he added, " But they did a wonderful job and I am very proud them"

"We are all very happy to see Mr Arinesakingham back and well."

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