A POTENTIALLY life-saving defibrillator has given a community a boost after several heart-related emergency call-outs.

Dozens of people learned lifesaving skills when a defibrillator was placed at Krishna Temple in Beverley Road, Heaton.

Tracey Wilkinson, fundraising manager at Bolton ICD Support Group, taught people how to perform CPR and how to use a defibrillator after she donated the equipment to the temple.

Bipin Patel, assistant treasurer at the temple, contacted the group after being impressed with its work.

He said: “We have had incidents within the past few years with people having heart problems. A few years ago we had an incident where we had to call an ambulance and the person did not survive. Since then we have wanted to do something.

“We have about 500 families who are members of the community in Bolton. We have a big calendar of events, including people playing music, yoga classes and a big sports festival.

"There is a higher risk within our community of people with heart problems and diabetes. The defibrillator is a real boost for the community.”

He added people were keen to learn how to use the defibrillator and CPR to help save lives.

Defibrillation within three minutes increases the chance of survival by more than 70 per cent.

Mrs Wilkinson said: “Placing a defibrillator at Krishna Temple was a great opportunity as they work within the community with a lot of people and it’s in a location where there’s a big housing estate where there aren’t any defibrillators.

“It is guaranteed for eight years. It is brilliant how people have got behind Bolton ICD Support Group.”

The £700 defibrillator was funded by members of Krishna Temple and Bolton ICD Support Group. It is the 17th defibrillator donated by the charity in the past 13 months.

To support the charity visit boltonicdsupport group.wordpress.com.

l Last year, The Bolton News launched the Every School Leaver A Lifesaver campaign by joining forces with Bolton West MP Julie Hilling to promote the teaching of emergency lifesaving skills.

Ms Hilling was inspired to start her campaign after former Bolton player Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch during an FA Cup match at Tottenham Hotspur and was resuscitated by medical staff.