Cash call to help save lives in Ledbury

4:00pm Tuesday 30th September 2008

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PEOPLE in Ledbury are being asked to raise half the cost of a piece of life-saving equipment for the town.

The British Heart Foundation will provide a £1,200 defibrillator if residents can find £600, with the foundation paying the rest.

Earlier this year, Janet Meredith from Ledbury told the Hereford Times residents wanted to help the ambulance service as a tribute to an elderly man who died of a suspected heart attack while waiting for an ambulance.

Ms Meredith said a defibrillator, which increases the chance of survival for heart attack sufferers, was found at Ledbury swimming pool days after the man’s death .

West Midlands Ambulance Service said a resident in the town got in touch to offer help in the future and the service was willing to train volunteers to use the defibrillator.

“We will be very pleased to provide the training at the town’s ambulance station. We are currently looking to train anyone who can commit to a few hours each year,”

said Nathan Hunt, regional head of community services.

It was hoped to site the potentially life-saving machine in a place that was open and publicly accessible but still secure, 24 hours a day, he added.

With people in Ledbury already volunteering to be trained to use a defibrillator, all that is needed is the funding to pay for it.

Anyone willing to help with fundraising can call Nathan Hudson on 01384 215555.