THE ribbon has been cut on a new life-saving defibrillator at Portland Bill.

The new device will be housed outside the National Coastwatch Institution on Portland Bill and run by volunteers from the station.

It has been donated by Arrhythmia Alliance as part of Hearts and Goals, a national campaign with former footballer Fabrice Muamba, who collapsed with sudden cardiac arrest in March 2012 and went on to make a remarkable recovery.

Portland Bill station manager Geoff Peters contacted the charity after becoming aware of the issue of sudden cardiac arrest and wanted to protect the community. Yesterday NCI Portland Bill held a launch for the automated external defibrillator device (AED) and a ribbon was cut to declare the facility officially open.

The launch coincided with the charity’s Heart Rhythm Week. The aim of this year’s event is to highlight the difference a by-stander can make with early treatment with CPR and an automated external defibrillator.

The machines increase the chance of someone surviving a sudden cardiac arrest from just 9 per cent with CPR alone to 50 per cent. Mr Peters said: “We were absolutely delighted when we found out Arrhythmia Alliance said they would donate a defibrillator for us to house at the lookout as part of Hearts and Goals and during Heart Rhythm Week.”