A RUNNER who suffered a cardiac arrest after taking part in last month’s Allendale Challenge has been reunited with the man who helped to save his life.

Rob Wishart dropped out of the 26-mile fell race at the halfway checkpoint after feeling unwell, and was given a lift to Allendale Market Square by event stewards.

He drank a cup of tea at the King’s Head pub, before going outside to see his partner and fellow runner Kerry Barnett cross the finish line.

But the 42-year-old collapsed in full view of Kerry, who is a nurse, and fellow participant Ray Galbraith, who is first aid trained .

The pair performed CPR at the scene, before the North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) arrived.

Seasoned runner Rob, a member of Tyne Bridge Harriers, was airlifted to hospital.

He returned to the King’s Head pub on Sunday, along with Kerry, where he was reunited with Ray for the first time since the dramatic events of the race day, on April 8.

The couple were there to help pub landlord Dave Stevenson present a cheque for £1,323 to GNAAS public liaison officer Dave Gibson, raised at a race night at the pub on April 14.

Dave Stevenson said: “Quite by chance, we had arranged a fund-raiser some time before Rob’s accident, because my wife and I are huge supporters of the air ambulance.

“It is wonderful to see that Rob is making such a good recovery, and it was great to welcome him and Kerry back to Allendale on Sunday.”

Kerry said: “Rob’s recovery is a gradual process, and he has no recollection of even going to Allendale to take part in the race on April 8.

“But he was very keen to go and meet Ray, to thank him for what he did, and also to thank the Allendale community for the money they have raised in aid of the air ambulance.”