Dover: New defibrillator installed outside café at Kearsney Abbey

Councillor Charlotte Zosseder with Kearsney Parks staff and the new defibrillator

A new defibrillator has been installed outside a café in Kent.

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has been fitted on a wall at Kearsney Abbey in Dover, adding to the network of life-saving equipment across the district.

Staff at Kearsney Parks will undergo training in how to use the defibrillator.

Dover District Council councillor Charlotte Zosseder said it had been placed in "a key location".

"In the crucial minutes during a cardiac arrest, it is vital that a defibrillator can be accessed quickly," she said.

"We welcome thousands of visitors to Kearsney Parks every year. Therefore it's important to have this life-saving equipment at such a key location."

A defibrillator was installed at Dover Museum in October, and last summer, 100 people from 34 businesses and community groups across Dover, Deal and Sandwich took part in training sessions organised by the council.

Defibrillators can increase chance of survival from cardiac arrest from around 5% to between 50 and 70%.

While training is not required, the odds of survival increase if the person using the equipment has been trained.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].