PETER REED would not be here today if it wasn't for the quick-thinking actions of two Southampton women who helped save his life 25,000 feet in the air.

Now he and his partner Jane James, 52, are hoping the Daily Echo will help them find the "guardian angels" from the city so they can thank them properly.

Jane, said: "We just want to find these two ladies and all we know is that they are both retired nurses from Southampton.

"They were our guardian angels because I don't think Peter would have survived the flight without them."

Malta Peter, 71, and Jane were on their way back from their holiday home in Malta, when he started to struggle with his breathing aboard Air Malta flight KM102 to Heathrow Airport on February 6.

Jane added: "He fell asleep during the flight but 90 minutes into the flight when our meals came round I could not wake him up."

The cabin crew administered oxygen to Peter and put out a call for any doctors or medical staff on the flight to come forward.

"These two ladies said they were retired nurses and offered to help," recalled Jane.

"One of them got her watch out and measured his pulse, while the other adjusted his oxygen and they sat with him for the rest of the flight back to London."

On arrival at Heathrow Peter and Jane, from Ickenham, Middlesex, were met by paramedics who rushed him to nearby Hillingdon Hospital but they were unable to take any details of the two Southampton women or say thank you.

Thanks Speaking from his hospital bed, Peter, said: "I told my Jane that we had to do something to say thank you to the two wonderful ladies.

"All we knew was that they came from Southampton so I hope the Daily Echo can help us make contact so we can thank them properly.

"I don't remember much about the flight because I kept drifting in and out of consciousness but I remember a lady holding my wrist.

"They were absolutely wonderful and I owe a lot to them."