A LOCAL councillor is recovering after suffering a major heart attack in the middle of Pool-in-Wharfedale.

Councillor Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) was out running last Friday, January 22, when he collapsed near the Shell petrol station.

The 51-year-old received vital CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) from a passerby while another fetched the community defibrillator* from the phone box outside the Post Office, on Main Street.

Cllr Downes' heart was eventually re-started and he was then airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary by Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

His family say he is now recovering well, though he suffered several broken ribs from the chest compressions that were given to help him.

His daughter, Sherri, posted this update on Facebook: "It's been a rough couple of days, thank you so much to everyone who has messaged and sent all their love and warmest wishes.

"He is going to need a heart bypass at some stage in the near future, but the main thing is he's now fully awake and communicating and doing amazingly well, he has been so so lucky, we thank the Lord so so much.

"My dad is truly an inspiration to us all, such a strong fighter and so very brave and we all love him so much."

A dedicated fundraiser who lives in Pool with his wife, Bev, Cllr Downes was just coming to the end of his daily 10 kilometre run when he collapsed.

*The defibrillator was installed in 2014 thanks to a campaign that was led by Paula McNeil, from the Post Office and General Store, supported by Pool Parish Council.