AIRLINES should be made to carry defibrillators on short haul and long haul flights, say campaigners, after a mother of two from Heaton died on a flight to Lanzarote.

A petition has been launched after the inquest into the death of 47-year-old Davina Tavener, during which coroner Alan Walsh urged all airlines to consider fitting the life-saving devices.

Mrs Tavener, who was found in an “unresponsive” condition after going to the toilet on the Ryanair flight, is thought to have had an undiagnosed heart condition.

Now an online petition has been launched, calling on all airlines on both short haul and long haul flights to install the equipment.

There are currently no rules which force UK airlines to carry defibrillators, but many airlines offering international flights such as Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates do so.

Ryanair and other budget airlines such as BMI Regional do not carry defibrillators, but EasyJet does.

In 2004, officials in America made it a legal requirement for defibrillators to be carried on foreign and domestic flights.

David Makinson, who was born with a complex congenital heart condition and has an implanted cardiac defibrillator that will restart his heart if he suffers from a potentially fatal heart arrhythmia, has launched the petition.

The 51-year-old, from Lostock, says he was shocked to hear that all airlines are not forced to carry defibrillators, and in addition to the petition, has written to the prime minister to raise the problem.

Mr Makinson, a former treasurer of the Bolton Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) Support Group, said: “I was shocked by it, because I think most people would expect that defibrillators would be carried as part of their standard emergency equipment.”

The inquest on Monday was told that time is of the essence in cases of sudden cardiac events, and that for every one minute when activity in the heart has stopped, the chance of survival reduces by 10 per cent.

Mr Makinson said short haul as well as long haul flights should have defibrillators, because cardiac events can happen to anyone at any time.

He added: “If just one person could be saved, then it is worth putting them on flights. It surprised me in this day and age, with the relatively low cost of defibrillators.

“Something needs to change, and hopefully with public support we can get the bosses to think about this.”

Bolton-based aviation expert Chris Yates said there was no technical reason why defibrillators, which are about the size of a briefcase and are battery powered, should not be allowed on aircraft.

Mr Yates said: “Obviously they take up space, but they are relatively small devices and would be able to be accommodated on the biggest aircraft, right down to the smallest.

“If somebody’s life could be saved, airlines really ought to have defibrillators on board both on long haul and on short haul flights.”

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority, which regulates aviation in this country, said the majority of UK airlines carry defibrillators.

He said: "The safety of the travelling public is always our number one priority.

"We are committed to working closely with industry and international regulators to consider safety-related concerns and any measures that could potentially enhance the safety of passengers."

A spokesman for Ryanair said: "We will continue to comply fully with all regulatory requirements.”

Defibrillators are commonplace among sports clubs, schools and community centres, with the fundraising work of the Bolton ICD Support Group, which has handed out 100 units to groups across the town.

The importance of defibrillators has also come into focus in Bolton since Wanderers star Fabrice Muamba was saved by one after suffering a cardiac arrest during a match.

In 2013, The Bolton News launched the Every School-Leaver a Lifesaver campaign by joining forces with former Bolton West MP Julie Hilling to promote the teaching of emergency lifesaving skills.

To view Mr Makinson’s petition, visit http://chn.ge/1GsPiXG