A hero stranger saved my husband’s life when he had a heart attack at a gas station… now he’s marrying my daughter and they’re expecting their second baby

It was a normal Thursday afternoon when Gary Stevens popped down to the local petrol station – and one that changed his family’s lives forever.

The father-of-one collapsed after suffering a heart attack while a worried man parked in the van behind him rushed to his aid. 

That man was Mark Taylor – and now he’s about to marry Gary’s daughter Bethany. 

The couple’s love story is one that started with tragedy, Gary’s wife and Bethany’s mum, Anna Stevens, recalls.

On January 27, 2022, Gary, of Watford, was washing his car when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest. 

Noticing that Gary had suddenly collapsed, Mark, who was sat in the car behind him, instantly ran over to assist him. He then tirelessly administered CPR for up to 20 minutes before the emergency services arrived.

As a result of Mark’s quick-thinking, Gary, then 56, survived the near-fatal attack, with paramedics praising his ‘incredible’ ability to keep the father-of-one alive.

The hero stranger also quickly hunted down Gary’s phone to call for family – and they all rushed down to be at his side as he was raced to hospital. 

Now, in recognition of Mark’s incredible life-saving act, Anna has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for the pair’s honeymoon and to also contribute to their children’s futures.

Sadly, due to an accumulation of long-term health complications, Gary sadly passed away just five months later – with Mark serving as one of the pallbearers at his funeral.

But in a heartwarming end to what could have been an entirely tragic story, Gary’s daughter, 26, and Mark, 34, are set to marry in January. 

The pair, who share an eight-month-old son Zack, are also expecting a second baby in December.

Adding that while she ‘lost a husband, I gained a son’, Anna has no doubt that her former husband would be ‘over the moon’ that his beloved daughter is set to wed the courageous man that once helped save his life.

Speaking to MailOnline, Anna said: ‘Finding out about what happened to Gary was absolutely horrific. When we left the petrol station, I said to Mark “let me take your number so I can give you some updates.”

‘We kept in touch and when Gary came out of hospital after about 10 weeks the first person he wanted to see was Mark because he owed his life to him. 

‘On the night Mark came to visit him he brought him a welcome home cake and it was just so lovely for the two of them to sit down and chat properly.’

Mark and Bethany began their unexpected relationship a year after Gary’s tragic passing.

Given the unique circumstances, Anna insisted that Mark was ‘incredibly respectful’ as they navigated the early days, even ensuring to check that Anna was happy with the proposed relationship before the pair moved forward.

She added: ‘They went for a drink as friends and I think they just had this great connection. It’s the perfect end to the story. 

‘Gary would not have survived the cardiac arrest if it was not for Mark. The fact that he helped on the day and I got that extra time with my husband and now have the most incredible grandson, I’ll never be able to thank him enough.

‘I know Gary would be thrilled that they are together, he loved Mark to pieces. I tell my grandson everyday what an incredible father he has and how Daddy saved Grandad’s life.’

Anna, who was married to her husband for 25 years prior to his death, even previously donated a kidney to her husband in a bid to help him manage his diabetes which had led to failing kidneys. 

Speaking to MailOnline about the incredible transplant in 2018, she described it as the ‘easiest decision’ she had ever made, while Gary said: ‘She put her life at risk for mine. 

‘There’s only two words to describe her: “My angel”.’

Now, as Bethany and Mark eagerly await their wedding day, the couple are adamant that Gary’s spirit will be ever-present.

Given her father’s absence, Bethany is set to be walked down the aisle by her ‘incredible’ godfather Alex. 

As Gary’s best friend of more than 40 years, Anna praised him as ‘invaluable’ in helping the family navigate their grief and ongoing life without Gary.

Meanwhile Anna, who is now hoping to honour Mark with a Pride of Britain Award for his life-saving act, described her soon to be son-in-law as ‘proof that good still exists in the world’. 

She added: ‘He’s just an incredible man. Many would have seen somebody passed out like that and froze or not know what to do, but despite having no first aid training Mark never hesitated and immediately helped out. 

‘Gary would no doubt be looking down and smiling at how things have turned out, I believe fate put those two men at that petrol station at the right time. It’s incredible’.

If you’d like to donate to Mark and Bethany’s love story, visit their GoFundMe.