A Kilgetty man who cheated death nine times has heaped praised on the ambulance crew that fought to save his life.

Ray Lecomber had to be shocked back to life nine times by Welsh Ambulance Service emergency staff after he collapsed at his home.

The 65-year-old had been working in his garden on a July Sunday afternoon when he went inside for a break and fell asleep in a chair. His wife, Brenda, was unable to wake him and was concerned at the strange snoring noises he was making.

She called an ambulance crew although when he awoke he had no idea what they were doing standing over him.

Tenby Ambulance Station paramedics Mark Rice and Nick Tebbutt answered Brenda's call to her sick husband, along with second year paramedic degree student Keri Morgan.

Nick Tebbutt, a paramedic for 19 years, said he had never dealt with a patient quite like Ray before.

He said: "Ray was sat in the chair unable to understand what all the fuss was about. He was a little pale, but everything else was fine. We asked if he'd let Keri examine him, which he agreed to, and Keri undertook base line observations, including respiratory and circulatory assessments, as well as checking his blood glucose and temperature.

"In fact, everything was within normal limits for Ray's age and after conducting an ECG test, which also proved normal, we decided this was a false alarm, although Brenda had been right to call us."

But Mark Rice, a paramedic for eight years, says there was a sudden change.

"We were talking to the family and getting a bit of health history from Brenda when Keri noticed an abnormal rhythm on the defib screen," he said. "She thought one of the leads had come adrift as it seemed so strange, but they were all still attached.

"It soon developed into what is called Torsades de Pointes, which is a rare ventricular arrhythmia, although Ray was still talking to us. The arrhythmia developed into unconsciousness and Ray arrested.

"We quickly gave him a precordial thump and Nick started CPR. Keri managed his airway and I attached the defib pads and shocked him. Ray came to and asked why he was on the floor. We told him he hadn't been well and we were taking him to hospital."

Nick Tebbutt said: "We managed to get Ray into the back of the ambulance and set off despite Ray still being unsure what all the fuss was about. However, on the way to Withybush Hospital he stopped talking and his breathing decreased.

"Again we shocked him and he came to carrying on the conversation where he'd left it, as if nothing had happened! In fact, this happened four more times before we got him to hospital.

"We handed Ray over to the full A&E team who looked a bit puzzled as Ray seemed so well. The next day we learned he had arrested twice more.

"Both Mark and I felt really concerned as we have never known someone survive after being shocked so many times. We really did fear the worst for him.

"However, imagine our surprise when a few weeks later a huge box of biscuits appeared at the ambulance station with a note from Ray saying thanks for saving my life. We couldn't have been more pleased."

The retired electrical engineer said: "I fell asleep in a chair which is highly unusual for me. Apparently Brenda couldn't wake me and as I was apparently making some strange noises she called an ambulance. Thank God she did.

"It turned out I had narrowing of two of my main arteries and I was having real problems. Apparently they had to shock me nine times, although I don't remember anything about it."

He added: "The ambulance crew took me to hospital. It was a good job for them I was either unconscious or not quite with it as I would probably have refused to go with them as I have always been a bit afraid of hospitals.

"I was taken to Withybush Hospital where I remained in ITU for a few days before being transferred to Morriston Hospital's Specialist Cardiac Unit. Since then I have been treated by a consultant and, to be honest, feel better than I ever have."

And Ray is keen to sing the praises of the ambulance crew and NHS staff who treated him.

He said: "I won't have anything bad said about any of them. From the call handler who took Brenda's call to paramedics who treated me at home and apparently shocked me back to life around five times and the hospital staff at both hospitals where I was treated.

"They are all dedicated and marvellous professionals, no doubt about it. I was treated throughout with dignity and respect and I will always be grateful. You always hear criticism, but to me they are marvellous."

Ray's sentiments are shared by his wife of 43 years, Brenda, who said: "Without their expertise Ray never would have made it.

"All the NHS staff were marvellous from start to finish and I have nothing but praise and respect for the work that they do."

Ray added: "It was a real shock in more ways than one to be honest. I suppose it's all about lifestyle. I have never been a smoker, despite the consultant asking me more than once if I did smoke.

"However, I do like my food and enjoy all the things you are perhaps warned about, like real butter, cream and stuff like that. Still, I'm eating very healthily now and feel I have been given a second chance thanks to the NHS. And believe me, I'm not about to waste it."