IT was almost a year to the day that Benarty man Stephen Nardone suffered a heart attack while attending an event at St Kenneth's Primary School, in Ballingry.

That day Stephen was kept alive by the hard work of people who had been attending the same event who applied CPR techniques until the paramedics arrived.

Once he had recovered, the former chairman of Benarty Community Council decided that the schools of the area should have defibrillators and he set in motion a campaign that saw him raise £4,500, with the help of many people.

A race night got the ball rolling and over the past few months there have been donations from Bayne's Bakers, and a number of individuals, along with the pupils at St Kenneth's holding a sponsored walk for the fund at Lochore Meadows which raised £1,000, bringing the fund's total to £4,500.

Stephen wants to buy three defibrillators for use in the area with machines being placed in the area's two primary schools and another to be situated in a suitable spot which can be accessed by the public.

He took along the first machine which was presented to St Kenneth's Primary and he handed it over to headteacher Kirsty O'Connor who warmly thanked him.

Said Stephen: "It is amazing that it is a year since that day when I received life saving assistance from the nurses who were there for the event, and then the paramedics who took over and took me to the hospital.

"When I was able to recover, only because of the efforts of these people and the doctors and nurses at the Victoria Hospital, I realised how important a defibrillator can be to someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest and and set about raising money.

"The support has been excellent I thank every person and organisation who has helped in any way.

"Hopefully the other machines will arrive early in 2019."