ON August 13, 2012, at roughly 9.15pm I was driving back from a training session in Ruspidge.

I was travelling along the Roman Road from Soudley when chest pains and dizziness hit me big time. I realised quickly it was the onset of a heart attack.

I drove as far as I could, trying desperately to get home. As I got to Blakeney Straits junction I could not go on any further and had to stop. I got out of my car, laid on the road and prayed for a car to find me.

As I laid there the impending sense of doom was all over me. I knew this was it, I was going to die.

Oddly as the pain got worse, and as I thought of my family, partner and friends, at times I became calm as if I had admitted to myself that there was no way out of this.

Then, as my head was pressed on the road lights appeared from a car coming towards me and my hope for the situation returned.

As the car neared me my left arm clutched my chest and I held up my right arm to signal I was in dire need of an ambulance. I was, by this time, sweating severely, with pains through my arms and having major trouble trying to get breath.

The car slowed down as I was across his lane of the road – and drove around me and carried on going!

Two other cars drove past me as I gasped for breath but eventually two lads stopped.

I don't know who they were but I really need to see them to say 'thank-you' for helping save my life.

They set off to call an ambulance as this is a "blackspot" for mobile phones.

Finally people started to see I was in danger and more stopped to help. My good friend Graham and his son Max, who I had trained with earlier, stopped and stayed with me. The ambulance response car got to me and the ambulance soon followed.

I was rushed to Bristol Hospital and suffered a "VF" on the way. I was later told I was clinically dead but the amazing paramedics brought me back using the "paddles."

I need to see you guys too. I owe you my life, I can never express the gratitude I have for you, I will forever be in your debt.

After surgery to remove a bloodclot and to have a stent fitted I?am now home recovering. It's a long process but I have my life and that's what counts.

My family and friends did not have to suffer the loss of a loved one due to these amazing people who helped me that night.

I understand that someone in the middle of the road at that time of night may have put people off stopping to help me, but I just wanted to give this message:

Please, if you ever find someone in this state, please just wind your window down slightly and ask if they are ok.

I was genuinely frightened for my life and the emotional scar it has left me with is terrifying. I can't be alone right now for the fear of it happening again.?The flashbacks are hard to deal with.

I love life, love my partner, family and friends and again want to say 'thank you' to all those heroes.

– Andy Mapps, Viney Hill.