DOCTORS saved the life of a man after his heart stopped for more than half an hour.

Jim Leach, aged 64, has stunned medical experts after making a full recovery.

Last night he said: “It obviously wasn’t my time — I must still have things to do.”

The drama unfolded as Mr Leach arrived at the Royal Bolton Hospital for an annual routine heart check-up.

But as he was being examined, he suffered a heart attack and staff fought for 30 minutes to try to save his life.

They eventually managed to re-start his heart, but feared Mr Leach would not survive the ordeal — or be left severely brain damaged because no blood or oxygen was being pumped around his body.

But days later, Mr Leach woke up in intensive care showing no ill-effects, to the amazement of doctors.

The father of one, who has four stepchildren, is now back home in Great Lever and recovering.

Mr Leach, of Broad Oak Road, said: “I started to feel unwell as I walked to the hospital and, as I arrived, it got worse.

“I just remember asking someone to help me and that was it. The next thing, I woke up in a bed with tubes all over the place, with no idea what had happened.

“Everyone at the hospital has been fantastic, I wouldn’t be here without them and it couldn’t have happened in a better place.

“I’ve accepted it and I’m glad to be here.”

Staff from the cardiology department and the intensive care and high dependency units helped to save Mr Leach’s life.

They gave him heart massage and used a defibrillator — a machine which can restart the heart with an electric shock — 16 times. They also fitted a temporary pacemaker as they battled to bring him back from the brink of death.

Dr Peter Scott, consultant cardiologist, said: “We eventually restarted his heart, but he was very poorly and we didn’t think he was going to survive.

“He just suddenly came round and over the next few days went on to make a fantastic recovery.

“It is not unheard of, but to make such a good recovery is uncommon, particularly after such a long period of time. Often there is quite serious brain damage.

“It’s amazing and he is a very lucky man.”

The retired plumber, who has 18 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, had an operation at Manchester Royal Infirmary in 2004 to replace a faulty heart valve with an artificial one, but has otherwise not had heart problems.

Following the emergency on Tuesday, December 8, he was allowed home on December 23.

His wife, Marie, aged 63, said: “It was horrendous. They told me he was unlikely to make it. It’s amazing — a miracle and the best Christmas present ever.”

Her husband, who is a born-again Christian, says his faith has been strengthened and he has given up smoking his 50 cigarettes a day, after 50 years.

He added: “I am looking forward to getting back to normal and spending time with my family.”

cherry.thomas@ theboltonnews.co.uk