In an extraordinary twist of fate, a British holidaymaker's life was saved by an off-duty police officer who performed CPR for an astonishing 45 minutes after the tourist suffered a cardiac arrest.

Trevor Butt, 53, appeared to be in perfect health when he planned a trip to Costa Adeje, Tenerife, to celebrate his wife Maxine's 50th birthday. However, disaster struck when he suddenly collapsed and ceased breathing on his ground-floor balcony whilst enjoying the poolside evening entertainment.

Maxine's frantic calls for help were answered by Ryan Mutlow, 31, a guest at the hotel and an Essex Police firearms officer from Braintree. Ryan administered life-saving CPR and used the hotel's defibrillator to give electric shocks to Trevor, which incredibly, led to his survival.

A year later, following a remarkable recovery, Trevor and Maxine invited Ryan and his wife Emma Mutlow, 27, to their vow renewal ceremony, as the two couples have since become inseparable friends.Reflecting on his brush with death, school caretaker Trevor from Duston, Northampton, expressed profound gratitude: "If I had been in England, at home or at work, I probably wouldn't be here to tell the tale."

He continued, with heartfelt appreciation, "There isn't a day in my life where I don't think about Ryan, he saved my life." Maxine, who works as a safeguarding partnership support officer, recounted the ordeal as the worst in her life, saying: "I would have had no idea what to do if Ryan hadn't been there."

She also shared a poignant milestone they could celebrate thanks to Ryan's heroic act: "Last year was the year our son graduated from university, and if not for Ryan, Trevor wouldn't have been there to see it. We're friends for life."

The near-tragedy occurred on the third night of their vacation in March 2024. Thankfully, Ryan's comprehensive first-aid training from his role in law enforcement proved crucial in saving Trevor's life.

Trevor was rushed to Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria after suffering a cardiac arrest, where he shockingly required TEN additional shocks with a defibrillator. He was placed in a medically-induced coma, during which his wife Maxine endured a harrowing experience, saying: "It was horrific - and to be somewhere you don't know where nobody really spoke English wasn't great."

Their son Owen Butt, 22, along with other family members, flew out to support Maxine. Two days following Trevor's cardiac arrests, the hospital staff brought him out of his coma, and his first words were to inquire about the Liverpool football score.

On March 19, an ECG uncovered that Trevor had Brugada syndrome, a previously undiagnosed inherited heart condition leading to erratic and potentially fatal heart rhythms.

Following his return to the UK, Trevor underwent surgery on April 16 at Northampton General Hospital to have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) fitted, a device designed to prevent irregular heartbeats.

The condition forced Trevor to leave his cherished role as a HGV driver, but he has since embraced life as a school caretaker at a local primary school, finding renewed appreciation for every day.

Owen is set to be tested for the hereditary condition, while the family heaps praise on Emma and Ryan, the couple who came to their aid, hailing them as their "heroes and guardian angels".

Trevor expressed his joy, saying: "It was a case of 'right place, right time' because Ryan was there - and I'm now the happiest I've ever been." He also reflected on his career change: "It was tough being unable to do my job any more, but I've got a lovely new job and I'm happy, healthy and grateful for my life."

Maxine highlighted their newfound mission: "We're now encouraging everyone we know to learn CPR, and we're leaving money to the British Heart Foundation in our wills."

The couple has shown their gratitude by sending a letter of recommendation to Pride of Britain for Ryan. They have also made a heartfelt commitment to lifelong friendship with Ryan and Emma, having invited them to their vow renewal ceremony at the start of this month.

In an extraordinary twist of fate, both couples found themselves back in Tenerife this month, where they enjoyed poolside drinks, celebrating a year since the dramatic event that united them.

Ryan recounted the fateful day: "I heard someone shouting for help - and if you work in the emergency services, you're never really off duty." He described his instinctive reaction: "I ran over and the adrenaline kicked in - it wouldn't have been right to sit back and not help. I've done CPR at work on people I never saw again but this was different - afterwards, I got to understand the impact of what I did."

He revealed the touching gratitude from Trevor's son: "Their son, Owen, thanked me for saving his dad and if it hadn't been for me, his dad wouldn't have seen him grow up. Ryan concluded with a sentiment about their future: "I think we'll always continue to meet up and stay in contact."