A PALL-BEARER used mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to save the life of a fellow coffin-bearer who suffered a heart attack as they prepared for a funeral.

Sixty-nine-year-old John Watkins became dizzy and collapsed by the side of the hearse, outside the undertakers parlour, as he prepared to set out to collect family mourners.

But another bearer, Bernie Reynolds from Manns Funeral Directors, in Dishley Street, Leominster, was quickly at his side.

Mr Reynolds began mouth-to-mouth and successfully revived Mr Watkins, a retired Wiggin worker.

Paramedics were on the scene within three minutes, and Mr Watkins was taken to hospital in Hereford where he made a good recovery.

His wife Beryl, who is now caring for him at home in Sydney Box Drive, Hereford, said: "He had the right people around him who knew just what to do."

Mr Watkins, who will be 70 this month, is now looking forward to the imminent arrival of his first great-grandchild.