A second life-saving defibrillator has been installed at a Suffolk community centre to help save the lives of people who suffer a cardiac arrest.

The new equipment will be provided to Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre after East Suffolk councillor Stuart Lawson donated £2,000 from his Enabling Communities Budget towards the new defibrillator.

The defibrillator, which can be used to give an electric shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest, is located inside Kesgrave Sports Centre and supports an existing device which is located on the outside of the community centre, off Twelve Acre Approach. 

Cllr Lawson said: “It is wonderful to have the new life-saving equipment on site and in the heart of the community and whilst I very much hope it won’t ever be needed, the new defibrillator will be available to help anyone in the event of a cardiac arrest.” 

The council’s Enabling Communities Budgets support activities delivered by community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations. 

Distributed equally among each of the Council’s 55 members, each ward councillor has a £7,500 Enabling Community Budget to spend on community projects or to develop new projects which tackle community needs in their area.   

Previous projects which have benefited from Enabling Community Budget funding include play areas, village hall refurbishments and equipment, community events and projects supporting people with disabilities. 

In January, the EADT reported how AFC Kesgrave footballer Olly Waters used a defibrillator to help save the life of a hockey umpire officiating a match on a neighbouring pitch who had experienced a cardiac arrest.

The man was taken to the specialist cardiac unit at Basildon Hospital where he made a swift recovery.

Felixstowe firefighter Michael Crisp also needs to raise £1,545 for new defibrilator equipment in his role with the Good Sam network of volunteers who provide basic life support to a casualty while an ambulance is en-route.

To find out more and learn about the kit Mr Crisp needs, visit https://gofund.me/7f8b42cc