Miracle men Sean Doyle and Glenn Davies have proved cardiac arrest is no barrier to running.

The two men collapsed and almost died at the Huddersfield Parkrun event, 12 months apart.

Now the pair have teamed up with other heart attack survivors to prove that running doesn’t have to stop after cardiac arrest.

Sean, 48, of Brockholes, and Glenn, 51, of Lindley, are members of a small but dedicated group from across the country who met up online to share their experiences.

The group, called Cardiac Athletes, were ‘virtual’ friends until last week when they took part in their first race.

The eight-strong group – from as far afield as Blackpool and Bristol – joined the Thoresby 10, a 10-mile or 10k run at Ollerton, Nottinghamshire.

The runners split into two teams taking on all-comers and dad-of-two Sean and teammates Roland Malkin and Lee Masters came out on top.

Sean lifted the trophy for the 10-mile team prize and was also quickest in the 45-50 age group, the first time he’d ever come out on top in his age group.

Overall he came 14th out of 84 runners and Sean said: “It was one of my best and it was a great experience.

“It was a cross-country course, whereas I’m more used to running on the road, and the uphill stretch got me a bit.”

Sean suffered a cardiac arrest at Parkrun at Greenhead Park in May 2013. His life was saved by the prompt action of a GP and a nurse who happened to be there.

He suffered another heart attack later but made an amazing recovery and was running again 12 weeks later.

Glenn suffered a ‘silent’ heart attack a year later at the same event – but finished his run before going to hospital.

Neither Sean nor Glenn believe running caused their heart attacks and say their fitness probably saved their lives.

Cardiac Athletes was set up by cardiographer Lars Andrews, who now lives in Australia, and the UK group is run by Roland Malkin, of Southwell, Nottinghamshire.

Keen runner Roland, who suffered his cardiac arrest sitting on the sofa at home, said: “I found a book by Lars Andrews which showed me there was a road back to running.

“I took it slowly and followed all medical advice and just over three months after my cardiac arrest I was back at Parkrun achieving a personal best.

“Running is my own personal celebration of life.”

Did you do the Christmas Day Parkrun? You might be in our picture gallery below!