A life-saving defibrillator has been bought by a Deal primary school to provide vital help in the event of an emergency.

Hornbeam Primary School, of Mongeham Road, owns the device which can re-start the human heart if someone is having a cardiac arrest.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) released figures which say that 12 people under the age of 35 die unexpectedly from a heart condition they weren’t aware of, nationally.

Some 270 children die of sudden cardiac arrests in schools each year.

Eleven staff members, who already have their First Aid certificates, were taught how to use it by Beverley-Jayne Last, a community first responder and BHF instructor.

She said “I was delighted to be contacted by the school to come and teach a HeartStart course to 11 members of staff and to also run through the basics of using a defibrillator.

“The device they purchased is completely automatic and like all units, is really simple to use.

“Its fantastic news to hear that another school in our Deal community has realised that sadly, cardiac arrest is a more common occurrence in school children than most people would ever realise.”

She said that all schools and public places should have one, like they do with fire extinguishers.

Head master Paul Newton said: “Our first priority at Hornbeam is to keep children safe and well.

“Having a defibrillator will help us provide an even greater level of emergency care if the need should arise.

“I’m really pleased that HeartStart South East Coast were able to provide such important training to first aiders at our school.”

• For details about Heartstarts CPR courses open to the public, contact Beverley-Jayne on: 01304 374883