THE tragic death of a fit and healthy 51-year-old has led to a life-saving device being placed in the heart of a Kingswinford community.

Pete Goddard died of a cardiac arrest in 2011 following a routine weekend of running with friends. He was found to have had cardiomyopathy, a condition which often goes undiagnosed until the heart stops.

His wife Sue and daughter Charlotte Taylor – who has a child at Glynne Primary School – have now raised enough money for a security box to hold a defibrillator.

Charlotte said: “We now fully understand the importance of swift action in the case of a cardiac arrest. We feel it is vital that defibrillators are located where they can best serve the community, in this case just outside the school gates.

“Hopefully this defibrillator will never be needed, but it's good to know it is there.”

The installation of the new piece of life-saving equipment was organised by the Cot Lane school’s Parent Teacher Association alongside West Midlands Ambulance Service and Fast-Aid Black Country.

Sue Cameron, headteacher, said: “Thanks to parents and the local community working closely with school, in the event of an emergency, this life-saving equipment will benefit both school and the wider community.

“We are grateful for the generous donation of both the defibrillator and casing.”

Councillor Ian Cooper, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, added “With more and more defibrillators being installed in key points across the borough, more lives will surely be saved.”

Fast-Aid Community First Responders volunteers work together with the ambulance service to deliver free ‘heart-start’ training programmes in schools and other organisations.