The importance of community defibrillators has been highlighted following a medical emergency in Tenby where a person sadly passed away.

Towards the end of September, a person was taken ill at The Old Chapel on Lower Frog Street, and despite attempts to save them and the Air Ambulance being called, they sadly passed away.

Following the tragedy, this month Tenby’s Mayor, Cllr Dai Morgan along with Tenby Lions President Roly Fury and fellow members Andrew and Robert visited The Old Chapel, home to the PATCH food bank, to hand over a brand new defibrillator from Tenby First Responder Ben James to the venue’s owner Ian Rees.

Cllr Morgan said: “The Old Chapel is one of my charities this year and being able to continue my support to Ian and Rebecca is a pleasure.

“Sadly this piece of equipment has come after someone recently took ill and sadly passed away even with the attempts of Ian and Rebecca to save their life.”

Ian explained that he’d had to leave this person to go get a defibrillator and those minutes can save lives, adding: “hopefully we will never have to use it and we thank Tenby Lions and the Mayor for this kind donation.”

First Responder Ben, who is also a volunteer with Tenby RNLI, said: “We were only too happy to help out recently, when approached by the Tenby Lions who wanted to purchase a defibrillator to be placed in the Old Chapel in Lower Frog Street.

“The defibrillator will be available during business hours should anyone suffer a medical emergency in the local area.

“We'd like to remind people that in a medical emergency, you should first dial 999 and ask for an ambulance. You will then be directed to your nearest defibrillator should the call taker think it is necessary.”

In the Tenby area alone, defibrillators are placed in the following locations - outside Tescos on High Street; The De Valence; Tenby Sailing Club; the Denis Cafe by Castle Beach; Tenby Bowling Club; Giltar Hotel; North Beach, Tenby Store and Post Office; the Co-op by The Green; Greenhill School; Kiln Park petrol station.

There are also privately purchased defibrillators outside Hanover Court; Acorn Heights; Tenby Rugby Clubhouse; the Clicketts sports ground; Hafan Y Mor school; and Tenby RFC’s ground at Heywood Lane.

Just outside Tenby, defibs are also placed at the mini Morrisons in New Hedges; Tesco in Saundersfoot; and at Saundersfoot Harbour.