Man appeals for 'guardian angel' who saved his life after he suffered a stroke in London street

A man who had a stroke and collapsed in the street is trying to track down the "guardian angel" who saved his life.

Mathew O'Toole was sitting on a bench in central London when he began vomiting and sweating.

A woman with a "kind face" and blonde curly hair spotted that he needed help and called for paramedics.

Mr O'Toole said: "People do walk past, we don't always take the time to see what is going on around us, but if that woman hadn't stopped, I would have been dead.

"She was just so calming with me all the way through.

"It's another one of those little acts of heroism, those little acts of kindness, and I just want to thank her for that."

The 47-year-old believes the woman might have had an Australian or New Zealand accent, was probably a nurse, and may have been called Dani or Danielle.

He told Sky News she had "a really warming comforting voice" and that he had no idea he was having a stroke.

The incident happened at 8.30am on 10 June outside the Ole & Steen bakery in Wigmore Street, close to Bond Street station in London.

His wife, Georgina, 44, tweeted: "He started vomiting. Many people passed by. Many probably assumed that he was drunk or hungover. One lady stopped.

"She recognised the signs of a stroke, called the paramedics, and directed them to take him straight to UCH emergency stroke unit.

"If she hadn't done that, we might not have him here today. Or things could have been a lot worse than they are."

Speaking to Sky News, she said she felt the family had been given a "second chance".

"I don't think there's enough words that are big enough really," she added.

"We'd just like to do something to show her how thankful we are and how grateful we are, and that things could have been a lot different if she wasn't there."

She said the family was also "so grateful" for the treatment he received from the NHS, and want to highlight the importance of recognising the symptoms of a stroke.

Mr O'Toole, from Farnham in Surrey, spent five days in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

"I struggle with coordination on my right hand side but my speech has not been affected," he said.

"I struggle with coordination in my right arm and right leg, but we're just so grateful to all be here. You know, however long the journey is it doesn't matter."