As the comedian was getting to the punch line he was dying on stage - literally.

Eddie Stapleton would have faced his final curtain without the swift actions of an audience member who delivered life-saving CPR as paramedics raced to the scene.

Retired window cleaner and carpet fitter Eddie, 77, is a member of Tenby Male Choir and had taken part in a concert at the town’s St Mary’s Church with the Gentlemen Songsters of Dudley in May.

Afterwards, the choirs retired to the De Valence Pavilion for refreshments and Eddie took to the microphone with a monologue, only to keel over as he reached the end of his story.

“Doctors later told me if Guy Jackson, who was with the Dudley choir, hadn’t stepped in I would have been a gonner.

“Guy gave me CPR and got my heart going before the paramedics arrived and I will always be grateful for that. He was fantastic and so were the paramedics.

“In fact my whole experience, from the ambulance service to Withybush Hospital and then Morriston Hospital at Swansea, was unbelievably good and I have nothing but praise for our wonderful NHS.”

Eddie, who has been married to Barbara for 53 years and has three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, is on the mend, having had a stent fitted. He is now looking forward to meeting up with his life-saver who lives at Stourbridge in the West Midlands.

Eddie’s life-saver, Guy Jackson - who had been trained in first aid by his employers, prisoner security company Reliance - played down his role.

He recalled that as soon as he saw Eddie keel over, he ran forward. “It was obvious he wasn’t breathing and was turning blue. I just automatically started CPR,” said 64-year-old Guy.

Within five minutes, paramedic Bryn Hazelden and ambulance technician Stuart Mills were on the scene. Said Bryn: “Had it not been for Guy, I suspect Eddie would have been too far gone. As it was, I was able to use a defibrillator and shocked Eddie to get his heart back into a proper rhythm.

“By the time we left for the hospital, Eddie was conscious and talking. He is living proof that good CPR should be taught at every school and why we need defibrillators in every supermarket, school, library, pub, swimming pool and every other public place that we can.

“In Pembrokeshire, we have trained more than 1,600 pupils in the basics of CPR and it is important we carry on teaching as many people as we can - it will save lives.”