A new defibrillator has been installed in a Cumbrian town.

Penrith now benefits from an extra defibrillator to help save lives after an animal hospital in the area had one installed at their site.

Veterinary Vision has installed defibrillators at its other clinics, which are in Bamber Bridge, Sunderland, and Glasgow.

Chris Dixon, clinical director at Veterinary Vision and the driving force behind the defibrillator initiative, said: “A cardiac arrest can affect anyone at any time, from children through to the elderly.

“Without the correct immediate treatment, cardiac arrests are often fatal.”

Around 30,000 people each year suffer a sudden cardiac arrest in the UK.

Defibrillators can be a real lifesaver, as the chance of surviving a cardiac arrest jumps from just six per cent to 74 per cent if the casualty is in a shockable rhythm and a defibrillator is deployed within three minutes.

Chris added: “The stark reality is every member of the Veterinary Vision senior leadership team has had an experience of a family member, friend or colleague suffering a cardiac arrest.

“Of course, we hope we never have to use the defibrillators but having them on-site and ready to use should give any casualties a much better chance of survival.”