The Truro Lions Club has presented a defibrillator to Truro Cathedral after providing a grant of £1,500 towards the cost of the unit, secure cabinet and training.

Included in this sum was a donation to the Lions Club from Cornwall’s Masonic Lodges Benevolent Charity and Mrs Smythe. The life saving device has been sited internally adjacent to the Cathedral shop door and the walkway to the Cathedral.

Truro Lions Club launched its own Heart Defibrillator Appeal in August, 2013 after forging a partnership with another West Cornwall charity, the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity, to introduce defibrillators to Truro and district.

This installation is the seventh from the Appeal Fund following those at Hall for Cornwall, Truro Tourist Information Centre, Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro Conservative Club, Truro Golf Club and St. Agnes Sports and Social Club. Fund raising is well advanced for PAD’s at Truro Railway Station and Perranwell Village Hall.

Across the UK 2,000 people die each week after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest – with the chance of survival at just five per cent if the victim is given CPR alone. For every minute a defibrillator “shock” is delayed, the chance of surviving is reduced by ten per cent.

The device, a Heartsine Samaritan PAD 500P, is fully automated and talks the first responder through the entire process, step by step, meaning it could be used by anyone – even those with no first aid training. However thanks to Truro Lions training will be given to key personnel at the Cathedral.

The Dean of Truro, The Very Revd Roger Bush, said, “We sincerely hope that we have very few opportunities to use it, but having the defibrillator sited by the Cathedral Shop will give our, visitors, staff and general public the confidence to know that we are now equipped to deal with, what could otherwise be potentially tragic circumstances.”

Lions President Ken Hart says “we are extremely delighted with Chapter’s support with this most prestigious installation. We are also very appreciative of the backing for our Appeal from the general public and organisations around Truro and district.

"Although our funds are nearly exhausted, active fund raising will continue as it is the wish of the club to have many more across the city including sports clubs, pubs, schools, and the bus station”.

"The charity would particularly welcome local businesses to consider fund raising for their own PAD which the Club can provide at a substantial discount to normal prices."

Private and corporate donations are accepted online at www.mydonate.bt.com/charities/lionscluboftrurocharitabletrust.