EXACTLY one year ago it was a very different scene for Hampshire student Sam Mangoro.

Yesterday the teenager returned to Mountbatten School in Romsey 12 months after the most traumatic experience in his life, when he collapsed during a PE lesson.

Sam had suffered a heart attack, but thanks to some quick-thinking teachers and the school’s defibrillator, his heart was kept beating long enough for paramedics to arrive.

And it was all smiles as he walked the school halls, greeting former teachers and saying hello to old friends.

Since then Sam has spent his time visiting schools and speaking at conferences about his experience and how the piece of equipment which rescued him should be in every school.

The incident prompted the launch of the Daily Echo’s Save a Life in Schools campaign, appealing for schools across Hampshire to buy a defibrillator.

Sam (pictured below with his mum Lynda) also travelled to the House of Commons, appealing to more than 70 MPs to make sure defibrillators are in all schools by helping to cover some of the costs.

Daily Echo:

Sam, who now lives in Worthing, said: “It’s really weird coming back and walking around all the same places, I think I’ve grown up a lot in the past year and so much has happened.

"I’m really happy with the way it’s all turned out, I’m just at college now working towards getting my A-levels but I still think getting defibrillators everywhere is so important and it’s amazing the progress that’s been made so far.”

Deputy head Joanna Scott added: “It’s just amazing, I can’t believe it was all that time ago. Sam was amazing the way he recovered.

"Since that day we have really made a big effort to fundraise for heart charities and have bought two more defibrillators to keep in different parts of the school.”