Honiton Community College has become the first school in Devon to benefit from grant funding from the charity RALPHH with the potential to save the lives of students, staff and visitors.

The money provided by RALPHH has been used to purchase and maintain a portable defibrillator. It will be kept in the college's Fitness Suite but is also within easy reach of the playing field and other indoor sporting area, including the gym which is used for public exercise classes outside normal school hours.

Preventing avoidable deaths among young people

The need to react quickly when someone has a heart attack has come into acute focus since the incident involving Danish footballer Christian Eriksen during the recent Euro 2020 championship. It is thought that around 25 young people in the UK die each year from over-exertion in the sporting arena; many of these deaths could have been avoided if the life-saving equipment was available nearby.

Honiton Community College headteacher Glenn Smith said: "We are really pleased to be partnering with RALPHH on this initiative.

"Safety of all the students, staff and visitors to the College is a top priority, and the addition of the defibrillator is a most useful further step."

RALPHH was established in 2019 following the untimely death of a former national junior rowing champion, Robert Allen, and is working nationwide to increase the number of defibrillators available in secondary schools, colleges and sporting clubs.

Full information is available on its website. Donations to support the work of the charity may be made online through JustGiving.