THE moment a husband saved his wife’s life with the help of a 999 operator when she choked in their North Yorkshire home is being recreated on the London stage.

As we reported in The Press last year, Ruth Swift, from Easingwold, was only seconds from death when she choked on a prawn sandwich, stopped breathing and turned blue.

But with the help of York-based call-room operato Charlotte Wright, Ruth’s husband, John, was able to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre and together, they managed to keep her alive.

Now, their remarkable story is to be recreated in a new production called Breathing Irregular at the Gate Theatre, in Notting Hill, London.

It comes after their story was featured on television in July during a programme hosted by Trevor McDonald called Real 999 Heroes.

John, 61, said: “We just can’t believe that they are using our story in the play. From the moment The Press first covered the story it has just gone on and on. There was the TV programme and now this.

“We are delighted. It will be a tribute to just how valuable the 999 service is. In some cases it becomes so urgent that it’s a matter of life or death and the operator has to become doctor, nurse, first aider and everything else.

“Charlotte was our only hope. I thought there was absolutely no chance – I felt Ruth had gone and I felt 999 couldn’t do anything, but she saved Ruth’s life. She was wonderful.”

Breathing Irregular, which is directed by Carrie Cracknell, will be a mixture of dance and theatre – all inspired by true stories taken from the transcripts of 999 emergency calls. The aim is to capture the intensity and raw emotion in those critical moments before the emergency crew arrive.

As well as John and Ruth’s story, it will also feature a woman giving birth alone and a son desperately trying to resuscitate his father after cardiac arrest.

John and Ruth, 58, who has suffered from multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years, have been invited to the premiere on January 27 and provided Ruth is well enough, they hope to make the journey to London. John is hoping to organise a coach trip for family and friends and if anybody would like to join them, they can phone John on 01347 822015.