EFFORTS are being made to help purchase a 'much-needed' defibrillator for a busy Barrow street.

Kevin Hubbold is running a number of fundraising events to help buy a defibrillator machine to be placed outside The Waterloo Pub in Greengate Street.

Mr Hubbold, whose parents Sharon and Kevin run the pub, formerly known as Last Orders, said the life-saving machine is something 'needed in the community'.

Currently, the nearest defibrillator machines to Greengate Street, which are accessible at all times, are at Life Leisure Barrow Park, the Barrow Credit Union in Dalton Road and Four Groves Community Centre in Suffolk Street.

However, Mr Hubbold said there should be one installed at the heart of Greengate Street in case of an emergency incident.

He said: "It is something which is needed in the community.

“My dad needs to go into hospital quite frequently for issues with his heart and my nanna passed away after a cardiac arrest so it means a lot to us as a family."

Mr Hubbold also felt inspired to fundraise for the life-saving machine after seeing the suspension of a number of football matches due to players' suffering heart issues.

Denmark's midfielder Christian Eriksen required urgent CPR on the pitch during the Euro 2020 clash against Finland in Copenhagen in June last year.

And former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba also collapsed during a match in 2012 upon suffering a cardiac arrest.

“A lot of matches have been suspended due to players suffering heart problems or going into cardiac arrest," Mr Hubbold said.

“There needs to be something which is readily available in the area, and in particular Greengate Street, for these emergency situations.

“There are no machines around this area and you never know when it could save someone’s life."

According to the website, heartsafe.org there are currently 15 defibrillators with 24/7 access in Barrow.

And Mr Hubbold plans on purchasing the 16th machine for the town funded through a serious of fundraising events, including: raffle tickets, bingo nights and competitions.

"We’re not sure how much we need to raise just yet but the one we’ve looked at is around the £2,000 mark," he said.

“You really never know when it could save someone’s life.

“We just want it to be there just in case anything ever happens and it’s readily available."