Patient donates £5,000 to thank life-saving nurse

A man has donated £5,000 to a hospital's charity after one of its off-duty nurses saved his life.

Chris Mills, a 77-year-old retired airline pilot, collapsed outside a shopping centre in Medway, Kent, in October.

Nurse Rachael Lewis performed CPR on Mr Mills while waiting for an ambulance to take him to the Medway Maritime Hospital's intensive care unit.

Now recovered after major heart surgery, he has donated £5,000 to the hospital's charity in recognition of the care he received.

Mr Mills said: "I didn't realise that there was anything wrong with me. I'd never had heart problems before. One moment I was walking with my wife Brenda and the next I felt things fade away."

He spent three and a half weeks in the Medway Maritime, before being transferred to St Thomas' Hospital in London for his surgery.

He said: "I was looked after incredibly well.

"This gift is to say thank you for saving my life and for providing such excellent care."

Donna Law, charity and fundraising manager, said: "It's always so lovely to hear from patients who have received the best of care.

"We will use this gift to further enhance patient experience at Medway Maritime Hospital by providing those extras that fall outside of the NHS budget."

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.