A defibrillator awareness group has been set up in Wotton following the tragic death of a resident.

Wotton Defib Awareness Group (WDAG) was formed after a man collapsed at the Royal Oak pub, Haw Street, on Tuesday, July 3.

He was pronounced dead at the scene but his life may have been saved had those present known where the nearest defibrillator was.

WDAG’s inaugural meeting was held at Culverhay Surgery on Monday, July 16.

David Owen, co-ordinator of WDAG, has stressed the need for more community Public Access Defibrillators (cPADs) in the town.

There are currently two cPADs in Wotton, located at the Civic Centre and Synwell pavilion.

David said: “I would like to see another four in Wotton and if possible five.

“The potential to help save a life is enormous.”

The group is also campaigning for cPADs to be held in unlocked cabinets. Currently those requiring a defibrillator must ring the ambulance service to get an access code.

“We are wasting really valuable time. We need to be quick,” said David.

Statistics from the British Heart Foundation state, after a cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces someone’s chance of survival by 10 per cent.

The group is similar to one David set up in Kingswood. This resulted in the number of cPADs in the town increasing from one to three, with a fourth currently under consideration.

He added: “There was such a positive community response. I am sure we are going to get exactly the same response in Wotton as we got in Kingswood.

“It only works because it gets the support of organisations in the town.”

The Wotton group has already been supported by The Chipping and Culverhay surgeries, Wotton Bowls Club, Wotton RFC and Clarendon Press.

Wotton under Edge Lions Club, long-standing campaigners and fundraisers for more defibrilators in the town, have organised a coffee morning at The Falcon Steakhouse from 10am-12pm on Saturday, July 21.

The Royal Oak is holding a fundraising day from 12-6pm on Saturday, August 11.

There will be live music, a bouncy castle, a gin bar and a BBQ.