Football fans use relay to promote lifesaving CPR

The 'Every Minute Matters' campaign is aiming to get 270,000 fans to learn lifesaving CPR

Plymouth Argyle fans have kicked off a 4,000km (2,485 mile) charity relay to encourage fellow football supporters across England to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The relay is part of the nationwide "Every Minute Matters" campaign, which aimed to get 270,000 fans to learn lifesaving CPR.

On Tuesday morning, Plymouth Argyle fans set off on a 93km (58 mile) cycle ride from their home club to Exeter City.

The challenge is taking place over four weeks and will end at Wembley Stadium on Easter Monday.

Miron Muslic watched the start of the relay

CPR, which involves chest compressions, is used to resuscitate people in cardiac arrest.

Plymouth Argyle head coach, Miron Muslic, was at Home Park to wave off the cyclists on the first leg of the relay.

He said, like himself, people were "a little bit afraid" of learning CPR but he intended to do so as "we should be brave".

"We are coaches, we are managers and in the end we have to be role models," he added.

'Save more lives'

David Isaacs, an Argyle fan who took part in the challenge, said he was "dreading the ride" but was delighted to be doing it for a great cause.

"I've never done anything like this and it's something that I feel needs to be done.

"It's vitally important that more people learn how to do CPR because any chance is better than no chance.

"Hopefully by doing this we can save more lives by getting more people involved doing CPR."

Alex Kay, physiotherapist at Plymouth Argyle who has trained in CPR, said: "I think a lot of people are sometimes too scared of doing the wrong thing, when it's important to just get your hands on and get started.

"The worst case is there's going to be a few fractured ribs, but that's much better than a dead patient."