BBC Breakfast viewers praised a teenage air cadet after he was reunited on the show with the cyclist whose life he saved. Nigel Owen collapsed during a cycling training session earlier this year, and it was the swift actions of a 16-year-old stranger that ultimately saved his life.
Air cadet Sam happened to be travelling along the same Derbyshire country lane as Nigel and immediately sprang into action, administering CPR until paramedics reached the scene. During Thursday's (October 8) edition of BBC Breakfast, Nigel explained to presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty how an ordinary day suddenly became a life-threatening emergency, striking completely out of the blue.
No warning signs
"I felt absolutely fine", Nigel recalled about the morning it happened. "I was in training for another Iron Man that I was scheduled to do in June. I was building up nicely, I felt good, no symptoms, I had no warning signs, felt completely normal."
Nigel had bid farewell to his wife before embarking on a 70-mile cycling route, and that remains his final memory of the day. Displaying photographs of Nigel before the medical emergency, Charlie observed: "You were clearly very fit, you were doing a lot of training. You were in very good health."
Nigel responded: "I was fit but not healthy, I think, that's what I have learned since". He continued, "I know that I had a catastrophic cardiac arrest, collapsed in the road in the middle of nowhere, and a couple of people just happened to be passing, and they stopped. They were brave enough to do CPR and first aid on me."
Emotional reunion
In an emotional twist, Naga and Charlie brought Sam, now 17, into the studio - the teenager who had rescued Nigel's life - as the duo met face-to-face for the first time. During a touching exchange, Nigel embraced Sam and declared, "You saved my life, you know that, don't you?" as they clasped hands.
Discussing his courageous intervention, Sam, who also works as a full-time carer for his mum, told Nigel: "It's a surreal experience. When I was last with you, it wasn't under the best of circumstances. The last time I saw you, you were basically, practically dead. And now I'm with you, you seem really well, and it's very weird to be honest."
Nigel responded, "Same here, I mean, I have no recollection, I was completely unconscious, I think it's staggering," before becoming visibly moved. "Oh, it's quite tricky," he said as he pressed one hand against his chest.
Full recovery
Naga stepped in to comfort Nigel and said: "That's absolutely understandable," before he told Sam, "It's astonishing what you did". Thanks to Sam's bravery, Nigel has made a full recovery from his cardiac arrest and is now back working full-time.
BBC Breakfast fans took to social media to share their praise for Sam and his bravery, with one person writing: "What an amazing young man. His family must be so proud of him."
A second stated: "What a fabulous young man Sam is", while a third chimed in: "SAM (love heart) What a remarkable young man! #bbcbreakfast."
"@TVNaga01, great story this morning, we rarely hear of younger men doing brilliant things", shared one viewer. "@BBCBreakfast How great is that young man Sam #BBCBreakfast @KensingtonRoyal Do take note of him!", added another.
BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
