HEARTSTART Malvern is celebrating training its 500th person in very simple resuscitation skills which could help save a life.

The 500th person trained was a member of the Colwall Wings social group, whose members attended a training session at the Colwall Park Hotel last week.

Over 25 members of Colwall Wings were trained in basic resuscitation skills, including how to use a defibrillator, by Heartstart Malvern.

Sarah Grout of the group said: “The training provided by Heartstart Malvern was unbelievably reassuring and the degree of hands-on-training was spot on. Having the opportunity to use a training defibrillator has given me enormous confidence and I am sure I would now be able to help in an emergency situation.

"This training session was oversubscribed and we hope to invite Heartstart Malvern back in a month or so. I would encourage as many people as possible to attend a raining session."

Richard Vakis-Lowe, Heartstart Malvern chairman, said: “We set a target of providing free resuscitation training at least 1,000 people this year. It is both remarkable and reassuring that we are already halfway towards this achieving this target so early in the year.

"I would like to thank everyone who has already attended a training session so far for giving up their time and to our fantastic team of volunteer trainers who are now delivering training sessions most weeks. We have a great team of trainers and the feedback we have received about our training sessions has been overwhelmingly positive”.

Since Heartstart Malvern was launched in January, it has held training sessions at Dyson Perrins, Malvern Wells and Welland schools.

Mr Vakis-Lowe said: “We are now keen to deliver our training in other schools in the Malvern and the surrounding villages. The training is very practical and has been very well-received by the first few schools that we have supported”.

Heartstart Malvern is also calling on businesses and other organisations to support its Saving Lives Together campaign, which aims to buy 50 defibrillators to be placed around Malvern. Each defibrillator and special cabinet costs about £1,500 to buy and install.

Mr Vakis-Lowe said: "Although we are pleased to have a number of pledges which will result in about half a dozen defibrillators to be installed in various locations by the summer, we need more support from business and other local organisations."

Anyone interested should contact heartstartmalvern.org.uk or 01684 342999.