IF it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here - these are the words of a man who could have died in the street if it weren’t for the actions of a passing nurse.

67-year-old Brent Dunningham nearly died after he suffered a heart attack in the middle of a Felixstowe street.

The former lorry driver was walking along Walton High Street when he collapsed and stopped breathing.

But former nurse Kylie Malapeau, 39, who was driving past the scene at the time, stopped her car and rushed to his aid, performing CPR on the grandfather-of-eight – and saving his life.

“If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be here, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“I’m so lucky to be here, I can’t thank her enough.”

Mr Dunningham, of Queen Street in Walton, Felixstowe, was taken to Papworth Hospital where he underwent a triple bypass operation after the incident in November.

He returned home on Christmas Eve and has spent the last few weeks recovering and is now walking at every opportunity he gets.

He added: “I didn’t know anything until I woke up in the hospital. It has changed me – every day is a bonus.

“Obviously I am taking great care, I’m not driving yet for another month, but what can I say, I’m just so grateful to be here.”

Ms Malapeau, a bouncer and family friend, said she was glad she had the knowledge to be able to bring Mr Dunningham back to life.

She added: “It’s like a warm feeling that I know I’ve done it.

“It gives you a bit of a spring in your step that you have done that for someone.

“I’m just glad that it worked and I managed to save him.”

Mr Dunningham, whose granddaughter Tilly Jennings suffers from a rare heart condition, spent most of Christmas and the New Year catching up with family and friends.

He has been to Ipswich Hospital for check-ups and will soon begin heart exercises.

The pensioner also heaped praise on the staff at Papworth Hospital.

“They are marvellous, I can’t fault them, I had nurses with me all the time,” he added. An echogram on Mr Dunningham’s heart has revealed there are no long-term problems and he has not felt any pain since leaving the hospital.