(Image: East Riding of Yorkshire Council)
A routine swim that turned into a life-or-death emergency has been highlighted during Restart a Heart Day.
The incident took place at East Riding Leisure Beverley when 82-year-old Stewart Coultous suffered a cardiac arrest in the pool.
Trained staff quickly recognised that he was not breathing normally and immediately began CPR while an automated external defibrillator (AED) was brought to the scene.
Their swift response highlights the critical importance of CPR and AED training, which is at the heart of the national Restart a Heart campaign taking place this month.
Tim Hicks, health and wellbeing facilities manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "The actions of staff at East Riding Leisure Beverley demonstrate just how important having these life-saving skills are.
"Residents are encouraged to follow the council’s social media channels throughout October for tips, information and resources that could help save a life."
Restart a Heart Day falls on Friday, October 16, and forms part of a nationwide effort to boost survival rates from cardiac arrests outside of hospital.
Led by the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK), the campaign aims to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by encouraging more people to learn vital lifesaving skills.
Councillor Nick Coultish, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: "When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every second counts.
"Knowing how to perform CPR or use a defibrillator can make the difference between life and death while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
"Restart a Heart Month is a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to learn simple but potentially lifesaving techniques and gain the confidence to step forward in an emergency."
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is supporting the campaign throughout October with activities at its venues and across social media.
Residents will have the chance to learn the basics of CPR and how to use an AED.
The council is using educational resources from the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) to train staff and help the public gain the confidence to act in an emergency.
On Friday, October 16, East Riding Leisure Beverley hosted a special training session from 8am to 2pm.
Training manikins and defibrillators will be available in the reception area, with assessors on hand to demonstrate CPR and answer questions.
The council has also recently invested in additional community defibrillators, installing them on all refuse collection vehicles to improve access across the East Riding.
This move aims to ensure that defibrillators are available in more locations and can reach people quickly when needed.
An estimated 30,000 people experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year in the UK—equivalent to around 84 people every day.