A life-saving defibrillator has been installed at a sports club in Loughborough.

Charnwood Borough Council has worked in partnership with the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust to install the community public access defibrillator at Park Road sports ground.

The Council funded and installed the defibrillator at the facility with the storage cabinet being provided by the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust.

The defibrillator is now available for use and is accessible to anyone, including visitors, staff and volunteers in the event of a cardiac emergency.

Cllr Anne Gray, the Council's lead member for open spaces, said: "Park Road sports ground attracts thousands of visitors each year, from the bowls club and cricket club to the tennis and netball courts, therefore it is vital that this life-saving piece of equipment has been installed."

Cllr Liz Blackshaw, the Council's lead member for communities and neighbourhoods, said: "Defibrillators can make a huge difference in the case of an emergency which is why it is important to have these at busy locations and sports clubs around Charnwood.

"I would like to thank the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust for working with the Council in managing to get this installed."

The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust have worked with members of Loughborough Town Cricket Club to train 18 volunteers in using the defibrillator.

Steve Humphries, chair of The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, said: "The Park Road sports ground is a busy sporting facility which made it the ideal location for installing a Public Accessible Defibrillator (AED).

"A sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, any age and without any warning. Whether that is at home, at work, at leisure or playing sport.

"Every minute without prompt CPR and access to an AED, the chance of survival decreases by 10%. That's why it's so vitally important to have this lifesaving equipment readily available 24/7 across all communities and for a bystander to act immediately and without hesitation before the emergency services arrive."

Alison Etty, Loughborough Cricket Club, said: "We are delighted with the installation of a new life -saving defibrillator.

"The safety of our players and the local community is paramount. The collaboration with the Council and Joe Humphries Memorial trust means that this life-saving equipment is accessible for all to use in a cardiac emergency. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible."

As well as providing free CPR and defibrillator training, the JHMT works hard to raise awareness of sudden heart deaths, helps to provide community defibrillators and runs Inspire, a local grants scheme for inspirational young people.

Joe Humphries Memorial Trust was set up after the tragic death of Rothley teenager Joe Humphries in 2012, who died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) while out on a run. You can find out more about the charity on their website: www.jhmt.org.uk.

The Council and the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust worked in partnership to install a defibrillator at Queen's Park in Loughborough in October 2022 and at the Outwoods in March 2024.

You can find out the locations of all defibrillators in Charnwood on the Council's website: www.charnwood.gov.uk/defibrillators.

Photo shows, left to right: Andrew Doodson, senior sports development officer at Active Charnwood, Terry Whiteside, Phoenix Bowls Club, Cllr Liz Blackshaw, the Council's lead member for communities and neighbourhoods, Alan Harrison-White, member of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, Alison Etty, Loughborough Cricket Club and Cllr Anne Gray, the Council's lead member for open spaces

( News story produced by Charnwood Borough Council news)