A driver who suffered a cardiac arrest behind the wheel, sending his car 'ping-ponging off the walls' of a tunnel has revealed how police officers saved his life.
Neville Owen, 64, was driving home through the busy A55 Conwy Tunnel in North Wales on August 21, 2023 when his heart stopped.
Horrifying camera footage shows Mr Owen's white Ford Transit bouncing off the tunnel walls and narrowly avoiding other cars as he loses control due to the cardiac arrest.
Traffic Wales officers arrived at the scene within minutes to find Mr Owen 'slumped over the wheel' and not breathing.
Realising it was a medical emergency, police officers swiftly carried out CPR and used a defibrillator to save Mr Owen's life.
Neville Owen, 64, was driving home through the busy A55 Conwy Tunnel in North Wales on August 21, 2023 when his heart stopped
Horrifying camera footage shows Mr Owen's white Ford Transit bouncing off the tunnel walls and narrowly avoiding other cars as he loses control due to the cardiac arrest
New heartwarming footage shows the moment Mr Owen reunited with the officers who saved his life.
Upon shaking their hands, he said: 'I'm Neville. Thank you very much for everything you've done for me.'
Recalling the fateful day, Mr Owen said he doesn't remember anything after entering the tunnel and clocking that a car had broken down further down the road.
He said: 'I approached the Conwy tunnel, saw there was an accident in there, one lane closed, down to 20 miles. I remember all of that.
'After that, I don't remember anything.'
Neville woke up in hospital surrounded by his family. He was none the wiser as to what had happened.
He said: 'I saw the wife and the kids, and my brother were there. I said, "What's going on?"
'It took a few minutes to get together and yes, I realised how lucky I was.
'Words can't describe really how I feel.'
PC Duncan Logan and PC Huw Capper tended to Mr Owen in the crucial minutes before the ambulance arrived.
Mr Owen (centre) reunited with PC Duncan Logan (left) and PC Huw Capper (right) - the officers who saved his life
Upon shaking their hands, he said: 'Thank you very much for everything you've done for me'
Mr Owen (right) meets with the officers to thank them and tell them what he remembers from the fateful day
'We carry defibrillators as a routine on all the traffic cars,' PC Logan explained. 'So when I arrived at the scene, I got it out straight away, went over, got the pads on and then and pressed the button on the machine and just let it do its business.
'It advised to take a shock, so everyone took a step back and fortunately, that worked.'
The officer said: 'I remember going home that evening and sitting down for a few minutes thinking, he's alive.
'It's nice to give somebody positive news because unfortunately, as part of our role as a police officer, we do go knocking on people's doors telling them their loved ones have passed away.
'All I would say to people is, don't be afraid to use a defib.
'When you call 999, an ambulance call taker will tell you what to do. Start CPR, ask someone else to get the defibrillator, explain how to use the device and organise the ambulance service.
'A defibrillator can't do anything to harm that person – it's worth giving that person a chance.'
During their reunion, grateful Mr Owen told the officers: 'That morning, I was having chest pains, thinking it was indigestion, so I took two tablets and went about my work.'
PC Logan took the defibrillator from the police car which was used to shock Mr Owen at the scene
PC Logan said: 'A defibrillator can't do anything to harm that person – it's worth giving that person a chance.'
After finishing work, the 64-year-old then played bowls but again felt ill during the game so decided to drive home to Llanfairpwll on Anglesey.
Mr Owen added: 'If you have any chest pains at all, don't assume it's indigestion - get it checked out.
'This pain was right in the middle of my chest, like a stinging pain around the heart – as you would get with indigestion.'
