A WOMAN who crashed her car after going into cardiac arrest has had an emotional reunion with the paramedics who saved her life.

Katrina Carter, 63, was driving home when her heart stopped without warning.

Her car rolled into a safety barrier outside the home of Steve Jones, an off-duty paramedic on Canvey.

Steve, 42, said: “I was in bed when my wife heard a crash. I went to look out the window and saw a car had hit the barrier. I quickly put my uniform on and ran outside and a man was shouting ‘I think she’s had a stroke’ but when I got to Katrina’s car it quickly became apparent it was much more serious.

“She was taking a gasp of air which is a sign her heart was not beating properly and I could not find a pulse so I dragged her out of the car and started CPR right away.”

Steve was quickly joined by ambulance crew Neil Ashford and Kristian Free, as well as paramedic Ross Dixon. They treated Katrina at the scene, continuing CPR.

Her heart was “shocked” nine times, before she was taken to Basildon hospital.

Grandmother-of-three Katrina, who lives in Marcos Road, Canvey, said: “I don’t remember anything about it. I woke up in hospital four days later and remember the consultant telling me I had been in a car crash and had gone into cardiac arrest and I felt sheer panic. But eventually I came round and they checked I wasn’t brain damaged because I had been down for 55 minutes.

“Words can’t explain how grateful we are. I was two roads away from my house and if it had happened anywhere else, I could have died. They are all my most favourite people in the world.”

They have since learned Katrina’s grandchild and Steve’s child attend the same school and have promised to stay friends for life.

Steve, a senior paramedic, said it was fate which meant Katrina fortunately crashed outside his home. He added: “It’s not like on TV where you shock them once and they come back. It’s very rare you get to speak to somebody who has suffered a cardiac arrest like that. But because I was able to get CPR started so quickly and the response from the ambulance service was so quick that she pulled through.

“It’s an incredibly proud moment to be able to meet her and her family and I am so thankful she crashed outside my house and for the support of the team.”

Katrina, who works as a practice manager, has made a great recovery.

She said: “I’m doing really well and it’s onwards and upwards from here.”

Jack Carter, one of her three children, added: “It’s been an incredibly emotional meeting. It’s difficult to put into words how we feel - they are heroes.

“The best outcome has happened and we are all over the moon. She is getting stronger by the day and keeping positive and we are so grateful.”

Katrina was saved on January 20 and met her lifesavers on Friday.