THE numbing experience of Benarty man Stephen Nardone when he suffered a heart attack at an event at St Kenneth's Primary before Christmas has made him determined to raise funds for a defibrillator to be sited at the school in Hill Road, Ballingry.

The chairman of Benarty Community Council had gone along to event at St Kenneth's feeling fine but suddenly he fell seriously ill and he was thankful for the efforts of school staff and four nurses who were in the audience.

Stephen said this week: "It was the most frightening experience and I was very lucky, that along with school staff, there were four off duty nurses at the event that day on December 15 who came forward to give me cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the emergency ambulance team arrived.

"Everyone was absolutely brilliant in what they did for me and really without the effort of the nurses I might not be here today.

"It really got home to me the value of a defibrillator being available in the school and I aim to raise the money which can purchase one for St Kenneth's."

The CPR, which was applied by the nurses, is a life saving medical procedure which is given to someone who is in cardiac arrest. It helps to pump blood around the person's body when their heart can't and their efforts allowed the ambulance team time to take over on arrival and re-start Stephen's heart.

He has organised a race night at Lochore Welfare Social Club for Saturday June 16 which he hopes can raise a significant sum towards the defib for St Kenneth's.

Stephen is on the look out for race sponsors at £50 per race and horse sponsors at £5. Tickets for the event are priced at £3.

Concluded Stephen: "What happened in December showed me how important defibrillators are for heart failure can happen to anyone at anytime and a school has so many visitors on a daily basis of all age groups so hopefully the race night can get the fund for a defib for St Kenneth's moving forward solidly."

If anyone would like sponsor a horse or a race get in touch with Stephen on 01592 869151.