A TEENAGER dubbed a ‘walking miracle’ after he returned from the dead has made it his mission to save the lives of others like him.

Dan Edwards, aged 17, suffered a cardiac arrest at Worcester College of Technology in the city’s Deansway in September last year but, just like footballer Fabrice Muamba, he miraculously survived. His heart stopped for seven minutes after he ran up the college stairs to retrieve his coat during the incident. He collapsed and gashed his head on a computer table on the top floor of the college’s Cathedral Building.

Since then Dan, of Wolsey Close, Worcester, has made a remarkable recovery and now wants to help others survive.

“I want to give something back, to try to return the favour to charities so other people don’t have to go through it and so people can learn more about it. I want to help with the research.”

Dan is already registered for the Worcester Heart Walk to raise cash for the British Heart Foundation which begins at The Hive in Worcester on March 24. He has already been named a local hero by the new care home Latimer Court in Worcester where he was presented with a cheque for £200 by Barchester Healthcare for Arrhythmia Alliance.

His dad, Darren Edwards, has persuaded his employers Southco in Wainwright Road, Warndon Villages, to install three defibrillators.

The family also paid for a plaque which now hangs in the college. The “special thank you award” honours Matt Harwood, David Price, Liam Martin, Paul Mitchell and the other staff who helped save Dan’s life.

Dan has his job back at McDonald’s in Blackpole and hopes he can soon reclaim his moped licence.

“I don’t take life for granted so much. I value life more – one day you can be normal and the next you may not be there.”

Dan was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and has now been fitted with a cardioverter defibrillator to regulate his heartbeat. To sponsor Dan, email his dad at darrenedwards3@talktalk.net