Couple in their 90s finally tie the knot after he proposed while she had heart attack

A couple in their 90s have finally tied the knot - after he proposed while she was having a heart attack.

Maurice Benton, 90, and Joanne Orris, 92, have lived together for 37 years and have just got married.

Known as 'Mo and Jo' they were visited by a vicar and registrar on March 19 to carry out the long-awaited ceremony.

The pair agreed to wed after Mo proposed while she was having a heart attack last month.

Mum-of-two Jo, who has two great-great-grandchildren, agreed to take the plunge whilst in the grips of a cardiac arrest.

It followed many years of turning down Mo's regular proposals.

Mo and Jo' they were visited by a vicar and registrar on March 19 to carry out the long-awaited ceremony (Somerset County Gazette / SWNS)

She said: "Mo came forward and knelt down. He said, 'I'm sorry I can't take this pain away from you. Will you marry me?'

"I've always said no in the past, but my heart attack made us realise perhaps we haven't got so many years left, so we'll get married after all.

"When I said yes, I think Maurice was so shocked, he nearly had a heart attack as well.

"We've been laughing ever since. And it means there won't be any problems with the taxman."

Mo, who has two daughters and five grandchildren, said: "I'll still be her slave, doing all the washing and ironing.

"Jo's not so mobile, but fortunately, she's got a sharp brain like nobody else.

Maurice Benton, 90, and Joanne Orris, 92, tied the knot after living together for 37 years (SWNS)

"It was about time she made an honest man of me."

After the happy occasion, during which guests enjoyed several bottles of champagne and food prepared by Mo, Jo said: "The only downside is he can't call me his mistress anymore."

Recalling the proposal Jo said: "I said to [Mo], 'I feel so ill'.

"He said, 'I can't do anything for you, so I'll ring 999.'

"Then he came forward and knelt down. He said, 'I'm sorry I can't take this pain away from you. Will you marry me?'

"I've always said no in the past, but my heart attack made us realise perhaps we haven't got so many years left, so we'll get married after all."

Jo, of Curry Rivel, Somerset, joked: "When I said yes, I think Maurice was so shocked, he nearly had a heart attack as well.

"We've been laughing ever since. And it means there won't be any problems with the taxman!"