A woman whose dad’s life was saved by a defibrillator after his heart stopped has welcomed the introduction of two machines in her village.
St Lawrence Parish Council is trying to raise £1,200 to buy two waterproof cabinets to house the defibrillators, which are being handed over by the ambulance service.
Villager Nancy Harper, of Sunnyway, knows having defibrillators handy can make the difference between life and death.
Mrs Harper, 39, nearly lost her father, Tony Wright, 76, eight years ago when his heart stopped while swimming in Benfleet.
Quick-moving lifeguards used a defibrillator machine to restart his heart before paramedics arrived.
Assistant swimming teacher Nancy said: “When they put the defibrillator on him, it showed no rhythm.
“It went off and he came round.
“If they had done CPR, they might have kept him alive but I don’t know if he’d still be here.
“He always says he was thankful he got to meet his grandchildren.”