A HEART charity carried out a free defibrillator training session in Machen this week after receiving an anonymous donation to supply the village with the equipmentlife-saving device.

Welsh Hearts is the leading charity for Jack’s Appeal, launched by the Argus last year in memory of Oakdale teenager Jack Thomas. His parents, June and Grant Thomas have been fundraising ever since his untimely death in February and have supplied more than 20 schools in Gwent with a defibrillator.

On Wednesday night, Welsh Hearts presented Machen Rugby Club with a defibrillator funded by a £1,000 donation given by someone who did not want to be named.

Sharon Owen, chief executive of Welsh Hearts, said: “I met with the donor who has asked not to be named and was absolutely amazed when offered the extremely generous donation which will ultimately save lives.

“The charity is inundated on a daily basis with requests to fund defibrillators and unfortunately there are not enough defibrillators in Wales or trained people to give victims the best chance of survival during those few critical minutes.

“With access to more defibrillators in our community we can provide a vital link in the chain of survival so that even more lives can be saved throughout Wales.”

In Wales there are around 8,000 sudden cardiac arrests outside hospital each year. The survival rate is only three per cent but increased to 47 to 50 per cent where an AED or defibrillator is used.

Welsh Hearts Saving Lives Team have a team of around 200 doctors, nurses, paramedics, first responders who go into all secondary and primary schools, sports clubs and communities throughout Wales teaching CPR skills and how to use a defibrillator.