A FIRST public access emergency defibrillator has been installed in Malvern Link.

It has been installed outside the front of Malvern Fire Station and is available for anyone to use in an emergency situation.

The defibrillator is kept in a heated locked cabinet and anyone dialling 999 in the event of a cardiac arrest or serious heart attack will be given the code to the cabinet by the ambulance service.

Richard Vakis-Lowe, a former paramedic who helped set up the scheme said: "We are delighted that the first defibrillator has been installed in Malvern Link.

"There is a real need to get many more defibrillators located all around Malvern.

"For every minute that passes between a person collapsing with a cardiac arrest and them receiving an electric shock from a defibrillator, their chance of surviving the cardiac arrest will reduce by about 10%.

"Defibrillators are very easy to use and can help save lives.

"It is really important that someone is able to perform simple cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the patient to keep their brain cells alive and their heart oxygenated while someone fetches the defibrillator.

"Heartstart Malvern provides free CPR training which includes practical training on how to use a defibrillator like the one which is now located outside the Fire Station." Councillor Paul Tuthill and The Royds Royal Arch Chapter donated a total of £1500 for the defibrillator and cabinet to be purchased and installed and Heartstart Malvern wished to pass on their thanks.

Mr Vakis-Lowe added: "We are also extremely grateful to The Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service for allowing us to locate the defibrillator in such a prominent position."