The family of a 76-year-old navy veteran today heaped praise on firefighters who dragged him back from the brink of death.

The rescuers twice restarted Colin Cartmell's heart after he collapsed while playing badminton at a Bradford sports centre.

Odsal's blue watch raced to his aid with a portable defibrillator - which shocks the heart back to life.

Today Mr Cartmell was recovering from his ordeal in the coronary care ward at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

"I'm most grateful to the firefighters of blue watch for their actions - without them I don't suppose I would be here now. They really did save my life," Mr Cartmell said.

"I shall have to pack up playing badminton and maybe start playing something more sedate like table tennis or bridge. But I'm determined to carry on living for a long time yet."

It is only the second time the defibrillator - Survivlink - has been used by firefighters in the county.

The 76-year-old former Royal Navy sailor - who survived the blowing up of the battleship HMS Barham in the Mediterranean in November 1941 - had been playing badminton with friends at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Rooley Avenue, Odsal, last Friday when he suddenly crashed to the floor.

His friend Brian gave him heart massage and mouth-to-mouth while others raised the alarm.

By coincidence Station Officer Frank Hutchinson and his two fire crews from Odsal were on a training exercise at the centre and were alerted to the emergency by the manager.

The officers rushed to the scene with the £2,000 defibrillator and after checking Mr Cartmell's vital signs attached the machine to his chest.

They twice sent an electric current into his body to restart his heart .

Paramedics from the West Yorkshire Ambulance Service helped stabilise Mr Cartmell's breathing before taking him to BRI where he was put on a life support machine in intensive care.

His wife Eileen, 60, and daughters Helen, 30, and Heather, 27, spent an agonising night by his bedside not knowing whether he would pull through.

The news they were all waiting for only came on Sunday when Colin, a granddad of four from Huddersfield, finally regained consciousness.

Eileen, a braille transcriber at Huddersfield Library, said: "I was very relieved because the doctors said there was a chance of brain damage if he came round.

"We were just so lucky that these fire fighters and the defibrillator were at the centre which undoubtedly saved his life.

"I just hope this proves that this equipment is worth every penny - it's absolutely vital.

"I'd just like to thank blue watch and the staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary who have been absolutely brilliant."

Odsal Station Commander Assistant Divisional Officer Allan Jones said "We're delighted that the equipment worked and revived someone so should anyone else need it in the future we know it works.''

Sabrina Armstrong, WYMAS press and publicity relations manager, said: "The quicker somebody is given treatment in these circumstances the better chance there is for recovery.

"We would certainly praise the fire crews for their swift response. Wherever possible the emergency services try to work together and this was a great example of that co-operation."