MEMBERS of Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club have raised money to buy a life-saving defibrillator for their club.

A member who recently became a first-responder learned of the Arrhythmia Alliance Bernard Gallacher Campaign and spearheaded fundraising to purchase the device, and more than £100 was received in personal donations with the remainder raised by the club itself.

Arrhythmia Alliance has worked to place over 1,000 defibrillators in communities across the country - when someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, a defibrillator combined with CPR can be the only way to save their life.

In 2014, former European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, and thanks to the availability of a defibrillator and early-response CPR treatment, he was saved and has made a full recovery.

The event inspired him and his wife Lesley to join forces with Arrhythmia Alliance and lead a campaign for defibrillators to be widely available in golf clubs in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Club president Alan Ridgway (left) and captain Philip Bowden are pictured with the new defibrillator.