A MAN who suffered a heart attack while driving through a North Yorkshire village has died, despite the efforts of passing members of the public and Armed Forces.

The 87-year-old, from Catterick Village, North Yorkshire, was driving through Tunstall, near Catterick Garrison, when he became unwell.

First on the scene to help the man were couple Caroline Briddick and Anthony Routledge, from Blades, near Reeth. Soldiers from 4th Regiment Royal Artillery later assisted the first aid efforts.

Mr Routledge, a former Army medic, said: "Caroline noticed there was something wrong with the driver of the car in front of us. His head was shaking and he was going really slowly.

"We stopped and I went to check on him - he was already turning blue and he was wheezing as he struggled to breathe."

Miss Briddick called an ambulance while Mr Routledge pulled him out of the Vauxhall Corsa and started CPR in the road.

Mr Routledge said: "It was around that time that a minibus stopped behind us. It was an RAF regiment on their way to an exercise and they offered to help, although because I was doing the chest compressions, they left me to it for a while."

He added: "Caroline was quite shaken by the whole ordeal - it was very traumatic."

The man was airlifted by Yorkshire Air Ambulance to The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, but he was pronounced dead by medical staff.

An RAF regiment, the 609 (West Riding) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Airforce - led by Squadron Leader Jeff Metcalfe - arrived on the scene shortly after Mr Routledge.

The 4th Regiment Royal Artillery joined in the help effort shortly after, before making their way to the airport to fly to Afghanistan for a six month tour in Helmand Province.