Footballer's VAT campaign after life saved by defibrillator

Jack Hurley spent a week in hospital after he collapsed

A footballer is campaigning to get VAT on defibrillators scrapped after his life was saved by one of the devices.

Jack Hurley collapsed when he suffered a cardiac arrest while warming up for a match in Husbands Bosworth, in Leicestershire, in June.

Other players used a defibrillator on him before paramedics arrived.

The 20-year-old said he would not be alive if they had not had access to the device and he was now trying to make it cheaper for clubs to get them.

The Hurleys have placed a publicly-accessible defibrillator at their home

The North Kilworth FC player spent a week in hospital after the match but has since recovered.

"I don't remember much about what happened to me," he said.

"I only know that an opposition player recognised what was happening and my team-mates helped to use a defibrillator to restart my heart.

"I was very lucky that my coach had installed a defibrillator in the club house. Without defibrillators I wouldn't be here today."

Mr Hurley, from Claybrooke Magna in Leicestershire, has become an ambassador for the AEDdonate charity, which works to expand the country's defibrillator network.

He has also started an online petition calling for an end to VAT on defibrillators, which has been signed by more than 78,000 people.

Mr Hurley (right) has recovered and is back playing football

He said removing the 20% VAT rate would typically cut costs by between £200 and £500.

"VAT is for luxury items but defibrillators are not luxury items, they are life-saving equipment," he added.

A Treasury spokesperson said a £1m grant scheme had been set up to help community organisations buy Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

The spokesperson added: "We take the safety of the public seriously and provide several VAT reliefs to help organisations buy defibrillators and other first aid equipment.

"For example, where an AED is purchased with funds provided by a charity or by voluntary contributions, and then donated to an eligible body, such as an NHS body or a charitable care institution, this purchase can then be zero-rated."

'Not much to ask'

The footballer's father, Colin Hurley, who is supporting the campaign, said there had been no indication his son would have a cardiac arrest before he collapsed.

"He's fine now and is loving his football again but the doctors never established what caused it," he said.

"He does have a internal defibrillator fitted under his skin below his left arm, which will give him a big jolt if his heart stops again.

"It's like the one [Luton Town captain] Tom Lockyer had fitted after his cardiac arrest.

"But not everyone can get one of those and you only find out you need one after it's too late.

"It's not much to ask from the government to end VAT totally."