Dustin Hoffman helps heart attack jogger

A jogger who suffered a cardiac arrest was saved after Hollywood veteran Dustin Hoffman went to his aid.

Sam Dempster, who is 27, collapsed during a run in London's Hyde Park on April 27.

The Rain Man star, who has a house in the capital, waited with the stricken lawyer until paramedics from London Ambulance Service (LAS) carried out resuscitation and rushed him to hospital.

It is thought the 74-year-old actor also called the emergency services but LAS was unable to confirm this.

After paramedics Martin Macarthur and Luke Sullivan restarted Mr Dempster's heart, Hoffman said: "Great job, guys," The Sun reported.

Mr Dempster was taken to hospital and underwent life-saving surgery like Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba who collapsed with the same condition during a live televised FA Cup game.

Mr Dempster told the newspaper:

Mr Dempster was enjoying a morning run when he collapsed as the actor was taking a walk.

Paramedic Mr Macarthur told The Sun:

Writing on his recovery blog "Heart-throbbing", Mr Dempster applauded Hoffman and the paramedics.

Sam also thanked well-wishers, adding that he was "indebted to Dustin Hoffman (who called for the ambulance after witnessing my collapse), Martin and Luke (paramedics who successfully resuscitated me with CPR and defibrillation), and the staff at both Chelsea & Westminster and Royal Brompton Hospitals."

An earlier entry on the blog, written by one of Mr Dempster's friends, recreated the drama.