A WOMAN who suffered a life-threatening heart attack has been saved following several shocks from a community defibrillator kept at Station Approach.

Leona Carpenter, 70, was eating lunch with her friends at Foxy’s Café and Deli, Victoria Road, when she went into cardiac arrest.

Two men who were First Aid trained, a retired nurse, and a doctor also happened to be lunching at the café when Mrs Carpenter collapsed.

“She was chatting and suddenly she went this grey colour,” explained the café’s owner, Sian Fox. “She slid off the chair, slumped to the floor, and was totally unresponsive.”

“What an amazing group of people that happened to be in here - a retired nurse, a trainee nurse, a doctor, and the two first aiders.

“They were just having lunch. It’s incredible.”

Penarth RNLI volunteer, Jason Dunlop, and former Cardiff City manager, Russell Slade, attempted to resuscitate Mrs Carpenter who lay motionless on the floor.

“I love the homemade soup at Foxy’s,” said Mr Slade, “so I talked Jason into having a bowl – after that he said never again!

“There was a big thud and the lady just dropped to the floor.

“We put her into the recovery position, but it wasn’t long until we realised she was in real trouble.”

She finally began to breathe again after sustaining three shots from a public defibrillator retrieved from the K-Tax taxi office.

It was the first time that the defibrillator was used.

Mr Slade called it an ‘absolute lifesaver.’

He said: “It was teamwork. We worked together to keep her going.

“Fortunately we had the defibrillator and we used three lots of shots.

“Eventually we got her breathing back.

“We just want her to make a full recovery and live life to the full. I’m please we were able to play a little part in that."

The defibrillator was purchased in 2018 following a campaign to raise funds by Angelina Hall and Cathy O’Doherty, co-owners of Glass By Design.

In addition to nearly £1000 raised by the pair, money was also donated by several local businesses at Station Approach.

Angelina said: “We are so proud that the community of Station Approach came together, and we have been able to save a life.”

“We are now going to raise money to rearm the defibrillator with a new battery and pads.

“We would also like to get Welsh Hearts to deliver an evening of training as this was a very sobering lesson to us all.

“Making sure as many of us as possible are trained to use the defibrillator and can give CPR will ensure that we are all prepared in the future.”

According to figures by the Welsh Ambulance Service, 8,000 people in Wales experience a sudden cardiac arrest each year.

When a defibrillator is used correctly, there is a 70 per cent chance of survival.

They will not create a shock unless it is safe to do so and they come with instructions.

“Because of the availability, the defibrillator was used within five minutes which is phenomenal,” said Jason Dunlop, who’s wife owns Umpa Lumpa Sweet Shop in Windsor Arcade.

“It’s an important story – people need to know that there are defibrillators in the community, and they do help people’s chances of surviving.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a go.

“The community we live in is pretty amazing.

“In these hard times, this is a great example of when communities coming together can make a difference.”

Mrs Carpenter was taken in an ambulance to a hospital where she later regained consciousness.

Her husband, Richard, said she is expected to make a full recovery following further treatment.