Hollyoaks' Nikki Sanderson honours hero who saved her mum after she died – twice

Nikki Sanderson has revealed that the hero that saved her mum's life and brought her back from the dead is now a closer family friend and is deserving of a Pride Of Britain Award

Nikki Sanderson dropped a huge bombshell when she revealed that her mum was brought back from the dead twice - and the person that saved her mum is now a close family friend.

Speaking at this year's Pride Of Britain Awards, the soap star, 40, who is best known for her roles in Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, spoke of her own experience. When asked if she ever had an experience with someone who was deserving of a Pride Of Britain Award, she replied: "Well, three years ago, on November 14, so nearly three years, my mum had two cardiac arrests, and we had a wonderful gentleman called Howard, who was one of the first responders that got to the house."

She continued: "My brother and I started the CPR. Anthony was there as well, helping. And Howard came, and he took over. My mum had passed away at the time, and he brought her back to life and took her to hospital and stayed with her. They worked on her the second time, which went into the second cardiac, actually she was in that for 48 minutes, and he stood by and he said to keep going. And so, because of Howard, my mum is still here today."

And in a beautiful turn of events, the actress said that the family are still in touch with Howard and every year, her mum pops over to the ambulance station to treat the paramedics with goodies. She added: "When my mum got out it ICU we tracked him down and he’s now one of ours friends. My. Mum goes down to the ambulance station every November 14th and gives them all goodies."

Nikki went on to say: "I think every single person has been touched in some way by something amazing that someone has done. And unfortunately, you cannot give everybody an award, but if you could, there would be so many people that would be deserving of it. And I think tonight, it's just fantastic to be able to see people that are truly deserving of a thank you, a well done, and for everyone to be able to just look at them and go, congratulations. You're just a fantastic person."

"A gentlemen, that's a daily occurrence for Howard, you know, it's, I mean, again, unsung heroes," said Anthony Quinn.

Nikki, who attended the Pride of Britain Awards with TSB with her partner, Anthony added: "Pride of Britain is something that we really, really, really love coming along to because it's so nice to be able to see like real people being awarded things for such special things that they do. And it’s an honour to be able to be invited, especially tonight, being extra special on the 25th anniversary.

"A lot of the people that have been here recognised this evening aren't asking for recognition - They're just doing the things because they genuinely want to be able to do it, and then to be able to give them recognition for it, It's just fantastic, because I think a lot of the time you don't get to see that, and it's a wonderful event to be able to show these people that we care and say thank you, well done. Real people, real heroes."

Meanwhile, Emmerdale star Anthony added: "I was in bits last year - floods of tears. You know, obviously it was all about Rob Burrows last year. What an absolutely tragic loss. What a hero. What an unbelievable man. So I’m ready for more of the same this year, tissue at the ready."

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