A young fund-raiser from Brine Leas has inspired Nantwich town councillors to bid for life-saving defibrillators in public places.
Harrison Lunt (pictured) and his mum Berny spoke to councillors about their application for British Heart Foundation funding for a public defibrillator.
Now Nantwich Town Council is also set to apply for funding, which could mean the town getting up to three machines.
Harrison’s extended project at Brine Leas School has expanded into a major public fund-raising campaign.
It has resulted in three defibrillators at his school, and one in his home village Aston.
Berny said: “The British Heart Foundation are accepting grant applications for defibs and CPR kits for community use.
“So the North West Ambulance Service suggested we apply for one for Nantwich town centre on those grounds.”
Harrison is now in talks with the Nantwich branch of NatWest about positioning a public defib cabinet on the bank’s wall.
“The staff there have been very supportive and they are running the idea through their head office,” added Berny.
She said the need for a town centre defibrillator was but into stark reality after a man collapsed with a cardiac arrest in Yorkshire Building Society in the summer.
“Unfortunately, there were no defibs around and by the time the paramedics arrived he had sadly passed away.”
Nantwich Town Council clerk Ian Hope confirmed they had registered to apply for two defibrillators and confirmed the outside wall on the market hall as a possible location.
Cllr Peter Groves said: “Every minute is absolutely vital when someone is suffering a cardiac arrest, and it’s not just restricted to older people.
“I commend what Harrison is doing, it’s a wonderful effort.”
Public defibrillators work by 999 operators providing callers with nearest location and a code to open the defib cabinet.
Once opened, the defib will guide the user through each step of its use.
What an inspirational young man! Good luck to him – his efforts are very likely to save lives. Congratulations to him, and well done to the council for taking this on board.