A Budleigh Salterton doctor saved the life of a team mate who suffered a heart attack while playing cricket for a team of doctors.

A Budleigh Salterton doctor has been hailed a hero after saving a teammate’s life while playing cricket.

The local doctor on Sunday revived a man in his early 40s who suffered a heart attack on the pitch at Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club.

The man survived after the quick-thinking doctor ran to his car for a defibrillator and treated the man where he lay.

It is thought the man suffered a serious heart attack at the start of the match, in front of his two children and a match-watching crowd.

The Devon Air Ambulance was called and landed on the pitch. The man was flown to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

The match, against a cricket team from the town’s football club, being played in Budleigh’s community league, was abandoned.

Cricket club secretary Kevin Curran said he thought the man was lucky to be alive.

He said: “He is a well-known member of the community who does an awful lot for the club and everyone was completely shocked when this happened.

“The match had only just begun and he was nowhere near the ball when he collapsed.

‘It was extremely fortunate there were a number of doctors around and one had this piece of equipment in his car - he may well have saved his life.”

Mr Curran said the club will now look at buying a defibrillator and training members how to use the equipment.

He said the club’s thoughts were with the man and his family, and wished him a rapid recovery.

Mr Curran added the club was sure to show its support of the air ambulance for helping the player.