A LIVE-saving defibrillator has been installed in High Wycombe town centre.

Wycombe Food Hub, an organisation which was set up in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic to supply food to those most vulnerable, have managed to help fund a new defibrillator.

The new device is located next to Costa next to the entrance of All Saints Churchyard.

It is registered with the national defibrillator network which connects immediately to NHS ambulance services across the UK. It can be accessed in emergencies by calling 999, who will provide a code to unlock the device and offer guidance on use.

Approximately 60,000 people each year sustain sudden cardiac arrest outside of the hospital so the new equipment will enable members of the public with basic training, to improve a patient’s survival rate, and save valuable minutes before the emergency services arrive.

Melanie Williams, chief executive of HWBIDCo, said: “Emergencies can happen anywhere, and we want to ensure that our town centre is fully equipped for all eventualities.

"The fast deployment of a defibrillator has been shown to increase the survival rate of a sudden cardiac arrest victim by up to 90% and it’s important to us to offer that life-saving support.”

The community defibrillator has been installed with the help of HWBIDCo, Thames Valley Police and MyWycombe.