A primary school in Kidderminster has proudly secured life-saving equipment for the community following a teacher’s traumatic experience.

St Oswald’s CE Primary School and Nursery in Broadwaters received one of three defibrillators donated by the family of staff member, Lucy Withams, after her brother and friends ran a half marathon to raise funds. 

The team were encouraged to raise the money after Ms Withams' sister had a cardiac arrest. 

Ms Withams witnessed the incident but quickly accessed a defibrillator close to home that ended up saving her sister’s life.

Kidderminster Shuttle: The team secured funding from The Big Local charity for a safety box The team secured funding from The Big Local charity for a safety box (Image: St Oswald's Primary School)

Headteacher of St Oswald’s Primary School, Mrs Carol Reece, said: “We are very proud to be able to provide the local community with this life-saving equipment.”

After receiving the defibrillator, funding was successfully sought from The Big Local charity to purchase a secure box to safely display the equipment at the front of the school.

The machine is now registered for use in emergency situations with twelve members of staff receiving training from the Oliver King Foundation who supplied the school with the defibrillator.

The charity is also campaigning for all schools to have their own equipment and continue to advocate for children to receive ECG screening.