A "true hero" has been praised for the saving the life of a Caergwrle man who suffered a heart attack while working on a roof.

The roof-top drama took place at Atherton in the Manchester area on the afternoon of October 23 last year.

Stephen Lightfoot, 50, from Caergwrle was working on the ridge of the roof checking a flue, but as he climbed up on a ladder he lost consciousness and slumped against a chimney.

Stephen's colleague Paul Unsworth, 48, of Wigan saw what had happened, ran up the ladder and along the ridge to help. He grabbed Mr Lightfoot and held him in a tight grip to prevent him falling off the roof and pressed his hand hard against his chest until he regained consciousness.

He then managed to get Mr Lightfoot across the ridge of the roof, down the ladder and to hospital where a surgeon confirmed that Mr Lightfoot had suffered a heart attack.

Mr Unsworth has been awarded a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Parchment for saving Stephen's life.

The recommendation for the award was made by Mr Lightfoot, who said: “I owe my life to him. I was re-pointing a chimney and just keeled over and collapsed.

"When I came round they said I'd been in Wrexham hospital for about a week.

"The surgeon came to me and said they'd lost me for about 30 seconds."

Mr Lightfoot has now been fitted with a pacemaker.

"They said that I'd need a pacemaker in two years anyway, so they thought they may as well fit one now," he explained.

"I asked when that would take place, and the surgeon said about ten minutes ago!"

In addition to the award he is to receive Mr Unsworth has also won the personal praise of Royal Humane Society Secretary, Andrew Chapman.

Speaking at the Society’s London headquarters as he announced the award Mr Chapman said: “This was a life and death situation. Once Mr Lightfoot had lost consciousness he was in serious danger of falling off the roof and being killed.

“Likewise, Mr Unsworth, was also at serious risk as he rushed to Mr Lightfoot’s rescue. He could have fallen off the roof at any time but he did not hesitate to go to the rescue. He is a true hero and richly deserves the award he is to receive.

"Put simply he was the right man in the right place at the right time.”

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the award but it is expected to take place in the near future.