A popular musician is keeping the beat after a cardiac arrest, thanks to a fire and rescue crew in rural Powys.

Eddy Gartry, a 73-year old musician who has performed with the likes of Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters, was successfully resuscitated by a team of firefighters following a cardiac arrest.

Mr Gartry said: “It was Monday and my band had a gig that night so the piano player, Lydia Homer, was at my house and we were sat in the lounge writing down what songs to play that evening.

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“I remember saying to Lydia that I felt a bit odd, a bit light headed.

“That’s when I fell face down on the couch, no warning, no chest pain, just like sudden death syndrome."

Lydia, who is also from Llanfyllin, immediately rang 999 and began performing CPR until the first responders arrived.

The firefighters, from Llanfyllin, act as co-responders for the Welsh Ambulance Service and were first on the scene.

Kevin Williams from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We got to the address and we were unable to fit the fire engine down the street due to parked cars, so we had to run down the street.

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“The lads got straight over to the patient with the defibrillator and grab-bag of kit that we use and commenced chest compressions whilst a couple of others set up the defibrillator.

“They put the defibrillator on him three times before carrying on with the chest compressions.

“He was coming more and more around then, and as he did the ambulance crews turned up and took over.

“Often in these situations it’s not great news, but as stressful as it was the lads were all buzzing and on a high when we got back to the station to know we had helped save a life."

After further treatment and stabilisation from ambulance crews, Mr Gartry was rushed to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital where he underwent surgery to fit an internal defibrillator to his heart.

He remained in hospital for eight days to recuperate.

Speaking of the importance of CPR knowledge and availability of defibrillators, Eddy said: “The more people that know how to do it the more lives can be saved and it’s fantastic, especially in rural communities that we have the fire service as first responders.

“I can’t thank them enough and all the staff at Shrewsbury and Telford hospitals who looked after me and help get me on my feet again.”