This month marks World Heart Day, and one couple in Crickhowell are marking the occasion by giving the community the chance to learn CPR for free.

Every year, 2,800 people experience a cardiac arrest outside of hospital in Wales and, sadly, fewer than one in 20 of those people survive. Quick action is crucial and can save the life of a person when their heart has stopped beating.

Former community nurse Ruth Cornish knows this all too well. Her husband, John Hyde, suffered two cardiac arrests in 2023, one while out cycling and another as part of a group run. Ruth and John have both said his life depended entirely on the quick actions of people around him who knew CPR.

It was this experience which inspired Ruth to spend her 60th birthday taking on a series of challenges to raise awareness and funds for the North Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation and Aftercare Charity. Now, on Tuesday, September 29, she is hosting a free CPR training event with professional instructor Chris Pritchard.

“Public-access defibrillators are now widely available in our communities, but the reality is they’re used in fewer than 10 per cent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests,” says Ruth.

“In many cases, that’s because people simply don’t have the confidence to use them and are worried they might harm someone. That’s why everyone needs to learn. The training we’re providing is simple, takes only a short time, and could help save the life of a friend, neighbour or stranger. And the teaching aids we have now make learning easy.”

“We really hope people of all ages take us up on this free opportunity – and stay on afterwards to enjoy some delicious home-baked cake!”

There’s no need to book, but if you’d like more information, contact Ruth on 07861 684142.

The session will be open from 10am to midday at the Crickhowell Resource and Information Centre on Beaufort Street.