Gym challenge raises £1k for air ambulance charity

The group managed to lift 53,835kg - the weight of the total number of air ambulances in the UK

A group of fitness enthusiasts have raised £1,000 for a lifesaving charity by lifting the equivalent weight of 37 air ambulances.

Members of CrossFit Paratus in Gloucester lifted 118,700lbs (53,835kg) to thank Great Western Air Ambulance for funding a public access defibrillator installed outside their gym.

Participants also cycled, rowed or skied the equivalent of 80 rugby pitches (37,795ft or 11,520m), while learning CPR and how to use the defibrillator to save a life.

It comes after gym co-owners Dan Smart and Sarah Blandford's elderly parents joined the CrossFit sessions and they wanted to implement extra precautions.

A total of 26 participants learnt vital lifesaving skills from GWAAC Heartstarters volunteers

The pair said they wanted to ensure as many people as possible knew how to use the defibrillator in the event of an emergency.

"My parents are both in their 70s and, when they started doing CrossFit with us, we knew there was an importance to have something nearby," said Ms Blandford.

"What we do is high intensity, so we wanted to make sure we're protected if anything does happen, but hopefully we never need to use it."

CrossFit workouts typically consist of functional movements such as rowing, running, cycling, with added elements including gymnastics or weightlifting.

The oldest participant to take part in the challenge was Ms Blandford's father Dave, aged 76, with the youngest being just five-years-old.

Mr Smart (L) and Ms Blandford (R) said the event was "a lot of fun with a little pain"

Ms Blandford explained the gym runs an over-50s fitness class, but emphasised that a cardiac arrest could can happen to anyone.

In the UK, cardiac arrest kills 12 fit and healthy young people aged between 14 and 35 every week, according to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC).

If a defibrillator is used within the first three to five minutes to restore a normal heartbeat, survival rates jump from 6% to 74%.

Last year was GWAAC's busiest year on record, with 2,272 people in need of critical care

On average, each mission costs around £2,200 for GWAAC's critical care team to attend, which is financed through donations and fundraising.

Emma Fawcett, supporter engagement coordinator for the GWAAC said: "As a charity entirely reliant on our local community to keep providing our service, we are delighted that Paratus has chosen to support GWAAC in this challenge.

"To also have the opportunity to train more local people how to save a life is an added bonus and helps us towards improving health outcomes for everyone in our community."