Life-saving equipment has been donated to Sheppey schools by a charity member who lost a friend to a heart condition.

Popular Island footballer Richard Abbott died in March 2002, at the age of 34, from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

David Knights, who knew the father of three, has donated an automated external defibrillator to each of the Isle of Sheppey Academy’s east and west sites.

He was joined at the presentation by Mr Abbott’s sister, Bev Panes, who also helped with the fundraising towards the equipment.

Pupils, at the Minster Road and Jefferson Road bases, are being given training in how to use the portable kits, which cost £1,500 each, by the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

They are designed to be easy to use, providing voice prompts to the user.

The contribution was made as part of cardiac charity SADS UK’s national Big Shock Campaign to place defibrillators in schools.

The group’s founder, Anne Jolly, said: “SADS UK is pleased that the Isle of Sheppey Academy will have a defibrillator on each of their two sites to restart the heart if there is a cardiac arrest on the premises.

“Using CPR alone provides a 5% chance of survival but using CPR along with the defibrillator increases the chance of survival 10 fold, giving the person a 50% chance of survival.”

A list of warning signs of sudden arrhythmic death has also been given to the schools to help identify people who may have an underlying heart condition.

SADS UK is lobbying the government, through an early day motion in parliament and a public petition, to make defibrillators mandatory in schools.

• To sign the petition, or for further information about SADS, email info@sadsuk.org or visit www.sadsuk.org