A lifeguard at the East Sands Leisure Centre in St Andrews found herself battling to save the life of her own mother.
When Doreen Scott, 76, collapsed in cardiac arrest at home in Crail, daughter Emma wasted no time calling the ambulance before sending her dad David to get the nearby public access defibrillator (PAD) while she started chest compressions.
Mr Scott, 77, knocked on the door of neighbour Martin Paterson, who then went to Emma’s assistance with the defibrillator.
Emma delivered one shock and her mum’s heart started beating normally again before the arrival of the ambulance.
Emma, 39, told The Courier: “I’ve been trained in CPR since the age of 17.
“But we were talking about my mum’s life here.
“Without that piece of machinery, CPR wouldn’t have been enough to get her heart back into rhythm.
“It was literally a matter of life and death.
“It’s quite emotional.”
Mr Paterson, 60, who is refurbishing the East Neuk Hotel in Crail with a group of friends, told how the drama unfolded.
He said: “Our neighbour came to the door. He was distressed and asked if we could help him with the defibrillator.
“It’s on the wall of the public toilets across the road from the hotel, and he was having difficulty opening the device,” he said.
“I helped him take it out and, as I was younger and fitter, I ran ahead into the Scotts’ family home, where Emma was giving assistance.
“I unpacked the defibrillator and gave it to Emma.
“It had real clear instructions. I joined in and gave CPR.
“Emma did fantastically well. Mrs Scott had sunk pretty low, but after two or three applications her skin colour changed and she started to look better.
“Round about then the ambulance crew arrived and took over.”
Mrs Scott spent some time in hospital after the January 1 incident, but is now back home .
Mr Paterson added: “She’s a very sprightly lady.
“She was walking in the spring sunshine recently.
“It was lovely to see her.”
East Neuk First Responders were delighted when they received a phone call from Emma telling them she had used one of their public access defibrillators and successfully resuscitated her mother.
Group chairwoman Gillian Duncan said: “There is no doubt that Emma’s prompt actions and the availability of a defibrillator saved Mrs Scott’s life.
“When someone is in cardiac arrest every second counts.”