Bovey Tracey church installs public defibrillator

The heart defibrillator was installed on 9 February

A community heart defibrillator has been installed outside a church hall in Bovey Tracey.

Katie Law, a bell ringer at PTT Church, said she wanted one for the building after realising the nearest defibrillator was about 10 minutes away and "someone could die in that time".

She said the usual cost of the equipment and its installation ranged between £1,600 and £1,700.

The retired GP said she contacted a charity for help.

Ms Law said the church, on East Street, only paid £750 towards the new equipment after securing a grant from defibrillator charity London Hearts.

"The nearest defibrillator to the church is outside of Bell Inn pub, which is a four-minute walk down from the church and five minutes back," she said.

"You need to use a defibrillator within the first three to five minutes after someone has collapsed."

London Hearts added: "The importance of heart defibrillators is greater than ever.

"Cardiac arrest does not discriminate it can happen to anyone of any age at any time."