A cyclist who was brought back from the dead by his friends on the South Downs is now helping to teach the first aid skills that saved his life.

Peter Holroyd was technically dead for 30 minutes after suffering a heart attack while out cycling along the South Downs Way.

If it were not for the first aid skills of his friends, the father-of-five would not be here today.

Now the 56-year-old is trying to pass on those skills to as many people as possible with a series of first aid courses.

Mr Holroyd was riding up the steep Bo Peep Hill outside Alfriston with five friends in June when he suffered a heart attack.

Richard Burrows, a care home owner who had attended a St John Ambulance course on heart failure, was the first to notice something was wrong when he looked back expecting to see his friend. Mr Burrows said: “I saw him on the ground.

“He still had his cycle helmet on and was still clipped into his bike, he wasn’t moving and his eyes were wide open.

“It was clearly something very serious and I realised it must have been a heart attack.”

Mr Burrows, friend Tim Jones and volunteer first aider and former paramedic Colin Burden did CPR until paramedics took over.

Mr Burden described IT consultant Mr Holroyd as “very dead” when he found him.

Three months on from that dramatic day, he is very much alive, feeling as healthy as in his 30s, and looking to spread first aids skills through a series of courses held in a barn outside his home in Hurstpierpoint High Street.

He said: “You just cannot say thanks, nothing is good enough. When I meet the guys, we still have big broad smiles on our faces. 

"I want to put something back. If it’s just one person, if it helps someone from feeling helpless as their best friend or a close family member needs help, then it’s worth it.”

To mark the anniversary next year, Mr Holroyd is hoping to ride the South Downs Way again and the London to Brighton bike ride the following weekend to raise money to buy more defibrillators.

The first session of 24 people was held on Tuesday night.

If you’re interested in taking part sign up at gift shop Vanilla in Hurstpierpoint High Street or email peter@theholroyds.com.