Ellesmere school gets behind Big Shock campaign

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is being set-up at the Lakelands School. The cardiac charity SADS UK has worked with the school which has expressed an interest in suporting the National Big Shock campaign by placing a defibrillator on its premises.

Defibrillator training will take place at the school on Thursday at 9am and will be carried out by the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Ellesmere has joined the likes of Wem, Myddle and Clun Valley in areas wanting to benefit from the equipment.

People have been inspired by remarkable recovery of former professional footballer Fabrice Muamba who collapsed in a game earlier last year.

On March 17 Bolton Wanderers footballer Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed during the FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur.

After receiving lengthy attention on the pitch, Muamba was taken to the specialist coronary care unit at the London Chest Hospital.

Bolton's club doctor later confirmed that Muamba had received numerous defibrillator shocks, both on the pitch and in the ambulance, but his heart had stopped for 78 minutes.

Anne Jolly, founder of SADS UK, the Ashley Jolly SAD Trust, said: "SADS UK is pleased that Lakelands School will benefit from having a defibrillator on the premises.

"It's good to know that if sudden cardiac arrest occurs the school will have a defibrillator quickly available to restart the heart."

By James Pugh