A LIFE-SAVING community defibrillator has been installed outside the new Haden Cross Fire Station in Cradley Heath.

The public will have access to the machine around the clock as it will be a permanent feature outside the main entrance to the station.

Heart attack victims have 80 per cent more chance of surviving if they have immediate defibrillation and the machines are now being installed in towns up and down the country.

The defibrillator, cabinet and a training defibrillator was bought after a campaign between members of the community and The Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation and WEL Medical.

Following the death of two children aged just 16 and 17 from heart-related illnesses, Robert Underwood and Maggie Prentice-Underwood set up CCSHF.

Mr Underwood said: “We are passionate about the placement of defibrillators, and firmly believe they should be everywhere people gather, just like fire extinguishers.

"We have now placed over 50 defibrillators in schools and public places since the loss of our children, in a mission to save the lives of others.

He added: “We have recently changed the name of our charity from Redditch Heart Safe to the Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation, putting the reason behind our mission at the core of what we do. We welcome opportunities such as this and are delighted to be able to offer our support to make this community safer.”

Ian Pearse, from WEL Medic,al said: “We are delighted to be a part of this project to make the community a safer place to be. It is fantastic that West Midlands Fire Service are playing another role in saving lives by agreeing to have a public access defibrillator at Haden Cross. We take great pride in what we do and are very privileged to be able to support the fantastic efforts of Rob and Maggie.”

Marc Hudson, station commander at Haden Cross, added: “We decided to use the official opening of Haden Cross community fire station to raise funds to place a defibrillator right at the heart of the community it serves.

"Although we didn’t quite hit our target; CCSHF and WEL Medical came to our rescue and funded the remainder."

He added: "This is a great asset to the local community and can be accessed at the time when people need it the most.”

The machine will be stored in a keypad cabinet, the code to which will be available by speaking to the ambulance service’s control room via 999.

Staff from Haden Cross will be offering training sessions on CPR and defibrillators, for more information phone 0121 380 7070.