100 people trained to use Porlock's new defibrillator

One hundred residents are now qualified to administer CPR and in the use of a defibrillator.

The initiative began as the result of an unusual incident. In the summer of 2016, a resident attended a funeral, where a member of the congregation had a heart attack during the service and was technically dead.

It was only thanks to the prompt response of three nurses sitting behind him, who recognised what was happening, and after considerable effort managed to revive him, and save his life.

Despite the fact that it was in the middle of the day, in Minehead, it took 25 minutes for the first responders to appear and 45 minutes for the paramedics and an ambulance to arrive at the scene.

Porlock has the greatest density of elderly people in the country and the resident realised the importance of a quick response being essential for saving lives, so the resident set about raising funds for the provision of a defibrillator and organising user training.

A series of Community Soup Days and generous donations from local organisations and individuals, rapidly raised over £6,000 enough for two defibrillators and training for one hundred people.

The enormous support given by Dr Ed Ford, a local GP and West Somerset Trauma doctor, enabled monthly training sessions to take place.

Training is not essential in enabling anyone to use a defibrillator, but having been trained, participants are confident to use it in order to save a life.

A wide variety of residents have taken part including, pub owners, shop keepers, the vicar and even the village undertaker.

Denise Sage, who organised the Community Soup Days, said: "Everyone knows about the problems the NHS is currently facing and there is a need for communities to take more responsibility for their residents.

"Porlock has shown what can be done to support themselves at this time."

The official launch of the defibrillator will take place on Tuesday, January 31 at 2pm at Abbeyfield in Porlock.