South Woodham GP, Dr John Cormack, came to the rescue when one of his patients was admitted to hospital just days before his diamond wedding celebration.

Fred Cooling was rushed to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford with a suspected blood clot just three days before his anniversary party,

His wife Eileen had resigned herself to celebrating their 60 years of marriage with just family and friends.

But in a move dubbed ''the great escape'', Dr Cormack, who is Fred's GP, liaised with a hospital consultant and whisked the 82-year-old off to the bash at Chelmsford police social hall on Saturday.

Dr Cormack wheeled Fred into the hall to the strains of The Great Escape theme, amid a flurry of party streamers and blowers.

An overjoyed Fred even managed a rendition of You Are the Wind Beneath My Wings to his wife.

Daughter Wendy Smith said: "Fred and all his family and friends would like to give a great big thank you to Dr Cormack for making the party so successful."

Relatives from as far away as Hong Kong had flown in for the diamond celebration.

"Fred made it very clear that he wanted to be out for his party," said Dr Cormack.

"It was very difficult because he had a drip, but the consultant found a way around that and I went and got him just for the night.

''General practice can be grim, but this was good fun."

Eileen, 80, said Fred, who underwent surgery on Monday, was thrilled. "He was on a high until we took him back.

''I got quite worried because he was so excited. He is recovering well now."

The couple, whose 60th wedding anniversary was last Thursday, began their romance as teenagers in the East End.

Before retirement, Fred worked as an experimental engineer for Ford, while Eileen worked at the food office during the war.

Fred and Eileen moved to South Woodham 18 years ago.

They have one daughter and two grandchildren.

Picture, top left: Fred and Eileen Cooling pictured last week before Fred's admission to hospital.

Picture, middle right: Dr Cormack with Fred and Eileen at their diamond wedding party.

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