'Vital' defibrillator installed at cemetery

Priory Woods Cemetery in Cottingham is Hull City Council's latest site to get a heart-starting device

A defibrillator has been installed at a cemetery near Hull meaning more than 100 life-saving kits are now available to the public, a council confirmed.

The device at Priory Woods Cemetery in Cottingham, East Yorkshire, is the latest to be unveiled as part of a Hull City Council plan make them available in the city and surrounding areas.

Other defibrillators are available for use in schools, community centres and tourist attractions such as Ferens Art Gallery and the Streetlife Museum.

Bereavement Services manager, Richard Barker, said: "We're really pleased to have the defibrillator available, because we know from experience how vital they can be when someone falls ill."

The council said more than 100 defibrillators are available in public places across Hull and the surrounding area

Mr Barker said a similar device had been used at Chanterlands Crematorium in Hull on "a couple of occasions" during services.

"Thankfully, it's been some years now since we've dealt with anyone suffering a cardiac arrest, but we know if that sadly does happen that we have our defibrillators, which are easy to use, and can make a huge difference," he added.

The council said the latest device had been made possible by Hull Action for Neighbourhood Defibrillators (HANDS), a partnership between the council, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the Rotary Club of Hull, and the Oliver King Foundation – which works to prepare communities for sudden cardiac emergencies.

Portfolio holder for communities and community safety, councillor Ted Dolman, said: "We always hope this equipment never has to be used but I'm proud as a council we are doing our bit to make Hull a little safer."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices