A GRATEFUL pensioner who was terrified she might be suffering a heart attack has heaped praise on the “outstanding” speed and care of the ambulance crew who rushed to her aid.

Pamela Whittaker, 85, had already suffered a restless night at her home in West Bergholt when severe chest pains caused her to raise the alarm.

She pressed a button installed as part of the Helpline service, worried she might be suffering a heart attack.

The ambulance was at her house within eight minutes.

She said: “I was so shaky, I couldn’t keep myself still and I had pains all under my ribs.

“I am more than grateful it nearly brought me to tears.”

Although she has lived alone for 11 years, Mrs Whittaker says she is blessed by the tight-knit community around her home.

When she pressed the button to alert the ambulance service, Helpline also alerted her neighbour Anita, who immediately came to comfort her.

Mrs Whittaker also benefits from the support of her two daughters and three granddaughters.

She said: “I am so lucky to have them and I am so lucky I have such wonderful neighbours.

“One of my granddaughters calls me every day to check on me.

“We all look out for each other here and the neighbours are always brilliant.

“I pressed the button and they alerted the ambulance service and my neighbour across the road, who came to stay with me while I waited.

“But we didn’t have to wait long, we blinked and the ambulance was here.

“It was two lovely lads, I think called James and John, they took great care of me and even called the doctor’s surgery to speak to my doctor.

“They couldn’t get through and so took it upon themselves to go round the corner and speak to the doctor personally.

“The doctor then came over in the afternoon and examined me - I just couldn’t stop shaking, my blood pressure was up and I hadn’t got much sleep.

“I have been feeling a lot better since then but I’m taking it slowly.

“I still think I can go like I’m 21 but I am 85.

“I just wanted to say a huge thank you to the ambulance service for their care and fast response.”

Mrs Whittaker’s illness was not as serious as she first feared.

She believes she may have had a reaction to medication she recently began taking to combat an inner ear infection.