A QUICK thinking vet has been hailed a hero after his swift actions saved the life of a farmer who collapsed with a heart attack in the region.

Ian Bennett, 62, collapsed while he was helping vet Ed Bulman to worm his Alpaca flock at his Rose Cottage home, at Lovesome Hill, mid way between Darlington and Northallerton.

The stress of holding the Alpacas still for Mr Bulman to treat them made Mr Bennett suffer a heart attack at his home in North Yorkshire.

Swiftly acting Mr Bulman applied mouth to mouth resuscitation and used CPR in an attempt to rouse Mr Bennett as he lay prone in the farmyard.

Mr Bulman, 35, owner of the Mile House Veterinary Centre, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, said: "The job to treat the Alpacas was relatively straightforward but while we were doing he just keeled over.

"I thought he'd been knocked over by one of the Alpacas as that can happen if you're not careful but he didn't get up and I thought he'd fainted.

"I thought he would come to but he started gasping and from there my training kicked in and I gave him CPR and mouth to mouth.

"He came round and I kept him going from there although I had help from the NHS Direct team over the phone too.

"An ambulance came and took him to the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, after about 15 minutes and the ambulance crew jump started him with the electric paddles.

"It's the first time I've had to do anything like this and I think if I had not been there to do this he would not be here now but I'm not sure I'm a hero.

"You tend to do the same things to resuscitate animals as you do with humans but hopefully this won't happen again."

Mr Bennett's wife Diane was also present at the time of the heart attack which took place on Saturday, May 24, and she helped with her husband.

Mr Bennett said: "Helping to treat the Alpacas was something I've done many times before and I've never before had any problems.

"I think it was the tension and stress of getting hold of them that was the problem and I fell to the ground and I went out cold.

"I think Ed was excellent and he saved my life. I'm very grateful to him and I think he's a hero and I'm a very lucky man."

Ironically Mr Bennett was himself involved in a rescue attempt over 20-years ago when he swam out to see at Redcar, Teesside, in a failed bid to save a woman.

A NHS Direct spokesman said: "It's not something you across often and I'm delighted that he saved the farmer's life and it shows the importance of having some first aid knowledge."