FIRE service workers have reunited with the woman whose life they saved in Colchester earlier this year. 

Essex Community Wellbeing Officers Keaton Eccles and Oliver Ingrouille met up with the woman named only as Jade last week.

Jade collapsed and stopped breathing while shopping in Colchester's Lion Walk shopping centre in April.

Nearby shop staff and members of the public called 999.

Ollie and Keaton, along with ambulance crews and the air ambulance, were swiftly dispatched to the scene.

They administered life-aving CPR.

Their prompt response played a crucial role in saving Jade's life.

Jade later received a diagnosis of CPVT (Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia), a serious heart condition that often leads to sudden death in young people.

Jade said: “Without Keaton and Ollie, I would not be here today. My son would have lost his mum, and my family’s lives would be drastically different.”

Ollie and Keaton, who are part of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s (ECFRS) partnership with the East of England Ambulance Service Trust, respond to a range of emergency calls.

Their role includes attending to cardiac arrests and conducting Home Safety Visits to protect vulnerable residents.

Speaking after the reunion, Ollie and Keaton described it as a "surreal" experience.

Ollie said: “Jade’s survival is a powerful reminder of the importance of knowing lifesaving skills. We’re incredibly grateful to have played a part in her journey.”

To raise awareness, the management at Lion Walk Shopping Centre, where the incident occurred, organised a free public event for Restart A Heart Day.

The event included CPR demonstrations and instructions on using defibrillators, further emphasising the importance of quick, decisive action during emergencies.