New defibrillator unveiled at The Fieldgate Centre in Kingsclere

A new defibrillator has been installed at the largest community centre in the village of Kingsclere.

The life-saving bit of kit is now in operation at The Fieldgate Centre thanks to several donations from local organisations and the defib charity AED Donate.

Supporters of the project included Four Lanes Trust, The Tower Magazine, Kingsclere Parish Council, Kingsclere Youth Football Club and Kingsclere Run Together.

A project spokesperson said: “Around 30,000 people die each year from out of hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), 620 of these are people under the age of 35 and 270 of these deaths happen to children within schools.

“If defibrillation takes place within the first three minutes of an SCA, the patient’s chances of survival increase by upwards of 80 per cent.

“The defibrillator will be available 24/7 at Kingsclere’s largest sports and social venue and to anyone in the locality.”

Kingsclere Community Centre and Croombs Electrical Services installed the defibrillator at the community centre and it was officially unveiled earlier this month by representatives of the various donating organisations.