A Scots grandad who collapsed with a brain haemorrhage in his garden was saved by his pal who had popped his head round to ask if he wanted a cup of tea.
Michael Clinton collapsed suddenly while doing some gardening at his home in Dunfermline on April 16.
The 64-year-old was saved by his friend Reynel Escarpe, who is also his lodger, after the 29-year-old happened to pop his head round the kitchen door to ask Michael if he wanted a cup of tea.
Grandad Michael says he still has to pinch himself he is still here, after a 'string of miracles' saved his life.
He told the Record he felt the 'chilling feeling of doom' while he lay paralysed in the back of an ambulance as medics battled to save his life.
Michael said: "I just cannot believe I'm still here.
"I was in the garden just transferring plants from a pot into the garden and I just felt the strangest feeling in my head.
"It's hard to explain. I knew something was drastically wrong but I just didn't know what.
"Everything was coming in and out of focus, things were spinning. I just didn't know where I was to be honest."
The retired undertaker would later be told he had suffered a brain haemorrhage which had caused him to have a stroke.
Pal Reynel Escarpe was supposed to be at work but had been unexpectedly given the day off.
As Michael fell to the ground, Reynel happened to just pop his head out the back door to ask if he'd like a cup of tea.
Reynel, 29, from the Philippines, managed to get him into the house before he frantically called an ambulance.
Michael said: "If he wasn't there, I don't know what would have happened.
"When I tried to call out I couldn't speak and when I tried to walk I just fell over. I was paralysed down my side.
"Within seven minutes the ambulance was here and when they saw the state of me they knew what I was going through."
Medics rushed Michael into the ambulance and sped down to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, around a 15 mile drive from his home.
Michael said: "Their speed, their efficiency, their knowledge, expertise - that's the reason why I'm still here.
"I was just lying there unable to do anything and I was absolutely s***ing myself. My blood pressure was at almost 200.
"At that point I thought, I'm going away here. I just had this terrible feeling of doom.
"A feeling that something dire was about to happen to me. I just felt like I was racing backwards away from everybody and they were gone.
"Everything was going into the distance and then all the fear left me. It was the weirdest sensation ever."
The next thing Michael remembers is waking up in the Intensive Care Unit.
He said: "I couldn't believe I was alive, in that ambulance I just thought I was away - I really did. It was a miracle.
"My first words were, 'I've been blessed' - that's all I could say."
Michael, who has no underlying health conditions, spent five days in hospital following the incident which happened on April 16.
Since then he has been recovering at home - enjoying the little things in life.
He said: "I'm not 100% recovered but I've got my voice back and I've got my movement.
"The furthest I go is my garden but my neighbours visit me everyday.
"For me just seeing another sunrise each day is a bonus.
"When I was in the ambulance I thought I'd never see another sunrise again, I thought I'd never see my family again.
"I truly believe I wouldn't be here without the Scottish Ambulance Service.
"Their efficiency, everything - it went like clockwork. It was like everything was booked. Like it was meant to be.
"There's days where I sit here and pinch myself and say, I am still here!"
