A COLCHESTER Academy student has been promised an extra Christmas present after saving his grandfather's life.

14-year-old Ben Shahrabi spent an hour performing CPR while a paramedic shocked 64-year-old Robin Carpenter following a heart attack.

Two weeks after the incident and Mr Carpenter is back recovering at home in Heybridge.

He said: "Ben had picked up from somewhere what you are supposed to do.

"I am very proud of him.

"He saved my life."

Gazette:

Wife Gill added: "It was a nightmare, seeing the colour drain from his face.

"I was useless but Ben found the strength, he got it from somewhere."

It was about 10.45pm on October 13 when Ben heard a noise in the lounge while staying with his grandparents.

He said: "I went downstairs and he was slumped on the sofa."

Ben called 999 and checked for a pulse while calling for his grandmother and handing her the phone.

After getting him flat on the floor Ben began chest compressions and a paramedic arrived with the pair working on him for an hour.

Exceptional work by the paramedic and specialists at Basildon Hospital received praise from the family but it was Ben who took the plaudits from the professionals.

He said: "I hadn't had training but had seen things in films and on adverts.

"His heart had stopped beating and I thought he was dead but I started CPR."

A few days later Mr Carpenter woke in hospital.

Ben said: "When I spoke to him he said 'I owe you my life' and 'you'll get an extra Christmas present'.

"Mr grandmother said 'you can stay as long as you like if you are going to save grandad's life'."

The couple live in Springfield Cottages and had to cancel a holiday after the trauma but are just happy to still be together.

And Ben is especially looking forward to Christmas.