NZ First MP and former television weatherman Brendan Horan has helped saved the life of an Indonesian politician during a United Nations conference in Japan.

Speaking from Tokyo, Horan, who is a former professional lifeguard and coach, said he recognised the signs of a heart attack from across the room when Indonesian MP Atte Sugandi collapsed during the Asia symposium on population yesterday.

Sugandi, who is believed to be in his 60s, remains in a critical condition in a coma in hospital in the Japanese capital.

"I zapped across and cleared his airway. His heart stopped so I started CPR."

With help from an MP from Mongolia, Zangad Bayanselenge, Horan kept up CPR for about 15 minutes until paramedics arrived.

"They got him to hospital, he hasn't regained consciousness. His wife was there and so it was a terrible thing for her. My prayers are with his family and just hope he pulls through but at this stage it's way too early to tell.

"But I'm glad I was there to apply what I could."

Horan coached the first professional Japanese lifeguards in 1983 and has returned many times to teach through out the 1990s. He speaks some Japanese.

Before becoming an MP he also represented New Zealand and Australia in waterpolo and was a New Zealand outrigger canoe champion.

Horan is the only New Zealand MP at the conference which finished yesterday.

- © Fairfax NZ News