Barnsley Harrier Alan Ford returned to the event where he suffered a heart attack and was airlifted to hospital a year ago to this time finish third in his category with a course PB by eight minutes.

The 42-year-old from Darfield had completed 13 of the 14 miles in 2016's Northumberland Coastal Race when he collapsed and his heart stopped for ten minutes.He was resuscitated and airlifted to Newcastle Hospital then had a stent fitted and was running again six weeks later before completing the London Marathon in April.

Ford said: "I can't remember anything about it, I just remember waking up in hospital. I have been told I was clinically dead for ten minutes, not breathing and with no heartbeat.Luckily one of the runners just behind me was a cardiac nurse and also the winner of the race knew what had happened and got the defibrillator.

"I am completely fine now and haven't had any issues at all. I am on my best ever form and have set PBs at almost every distance this year. Going back there was a big moment for me and very exciting. I just can't believe it has been a year already."

Ford finished in a time of 1-23-47 which put him 22nd overall out of 990 finishers. Penistone Footpath Runner Nick Whittingham finished in 1-54-47 and Teresa Wall in 2-31-59.