Woman saves man's life after he suffers heart attack on their first date

A woman has saved a man’s life after he suffered a heart attack while on a first date.

Max Montgomery and Andi Traynor were stand-up paddleboarding at Capitola in California in October 2017 when the date took a tragic turn.

When the pair got back to the beach, Mr Montgomery dropped onto the sand and Ms Traynor, a doctor, leapt into action, performing CPR while witnesses helped call paramedics.

Telling their story on their website Paddle4Good, an organisation that helps create adventure activities for people with physical or developmental needs, the couple who are still together say it was Ms Traynor’s quick-thinking that saved Mr Montgomery’s life.

Once ambulance officers arrived, Mr Montgomery’s heart did not restart until the sixth defibrillator shock.

Wildlife photographer Alexander Baker was standing nearby as the drama unfolded and captured the CPR – and the couple’s first kiss – on camera.

Mr Montgomery, who did not have a heartbeat for 17 minutes, told CBS News he had a burning sensation in his chest before he collapsed.

“I kept saying ‘just make it to the car, make it to the car’ and I said ‘I need to put the board down’ and I put the board down and then boom that was it,” he said.

Ms Traynor said she kept checking for a pulse but could not feel anything.

“I thought he was dead,” she said.

Mr Montgomery said it was a “magical” first kiss because it kept him alive and the couple hopes their story will help save others and are teaching people how to administer CPR.

“Anything can happen at any time to anyone,” Mr Montgomery told CBS.