James Mannie dropped in for afternoon tea with his best friend - and ended up saving his life.

Robert Fisher, 83, had been lying unconscious for 16 hours after collapsing at home the night before. He and was near death.

Mr Mannie called an ambulance - and prompt action by him and the paramedics kept his pal alive.

A grateful Mr Fisher said: "I was as close to the 'pearly gates' as I could have been without being dead. It was a frightening experience."

Former nurse Mr Mannie, 56, of Marriott Court, Wallingford, found Mr Fisher after arriving at his home in Reading Road, Wallingford, for afternoon tea.

Mr Fisher, who suffers from diabetes, said: "James arrived at my house with some other friends to take tea with me. But when he arrived he found the door double-locked, no tea laid and me not about.

"He must have known something was very wrong and he rushed upstairs to find me senseless. At first he thought I was dead, but when he discovered I was breathing, he called an ambulance. "The paramedics gave me a glucose injection which began to bring me to my senses, and I woke up in a room full of people."

He added: "I thought I was in a dream and wondered what all the people were doing there. I had been unconscious from midnight on Saturday until 4pm on Sunday.

"I am a very lucky man to have a friend like that. Usually when you get old, friends tend to fade away - but he has been fantastic to me. It is knowing that someone is there that makes a lot of difference."

Mr Fisher also praised the ambulance staff for their quick action. He said: "Without doubt, they saved my life and I shall always be grateful to them."

Mr Mannie said: "When I arrived I knew something was wrong. I went upstairs and was very upset. First I started crying because he had gone, then when I saw him breathing I was in tears of hope. I was so relieved when he was revived."

He added: "If he hadn't been found, he would have died.

"Mr Fisher is one of the special people in my life, which makes it even more special."

Story date: Wednesday 10 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.