A quick-thinking coffee shop worker may have saved the life of a stranger having a fit on the pavement outside the store.

In only his first week working in Dolliz Deli in The Green, Chingford, Colin Williams, 59, leapt into action today (June 9) after seeing the man in trouble.

Mr Williams who described himself as just a “general dogsbody” had seen similar fits before and instantly knew what to do.

He ran to the man and quickly put his fingers down his throat to pull his tongue out before he could swallow it.

He said: “He nosedived and hit the floor hard on his head.

“He had a huge bulge on his head.

“There was blood everywhere, he was covered in it.

“He was so strong I could barely hold him.”

“I had my knees and arms around him but I had to get someone to get a pillow for his head because he was jerking so much.”

Mr Williams didn’t want to be labelled a hero but owner of Dolliz Deli, Kelly Liman, said he “definitely saved his life”.

She added: “He was lucky we had Colin here.”

A passerby rang emergency services just after 10.40am and an ambulance arrived within four minutes of the call.

A further ambulance arrived minutes later and an air ambulance landed on the Green by Saints Peter and Paul Church, but was not needed.

The man’s head injury was treated by medics before being taken to a nearby hospital.