CHRISTCHURCH Baptist Church have managed reached their fundraising target to allow them to keep their its Community Access Defibrillator (AED), following a donation from the Aster Group housing association.

The £500 donated by Aster will enable the church to renew its contract with South West Ambulance Service, after it reached out to the local community to help raise £1,500 to cover the cost.

The funding will ensure that the Defibrillator remain on its building for another four years.

Minister from Christchurch Baptist Church Chris Brockway said: “Given that SCAs happen around 140,000 times a year in the UK making it one of our largest killers, it is vital that we continue to provide the local community with access to the AED.

“It has already saved lives and sadly, I’m sure it will be used again.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has helped raise the funds needed to keep the AED in place, it is very much appreciated.”

First installed in 2017, the AED has been deployed on several occasions providing lifesaving medical intervention.

The computerised medical device, which delivers an electric current to shock the heart back into normal rhythm following a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), provides the public with a window to swiftly take life-saving action until the emergency services arrive.

Amanda Williams, group development director at Aster Group, said: “We know how important AEDs are so when we saw the Church appealing for funds, we were keen to support this important initiative.

“We do all we can to support our customers and the communities we operate in and with the planned construction of our new affordable homes commencing in Bargates in the spring, we’re pleased to be able to help provide our customers and those living in the wider community with such a vital piece of life saving equipment.”