LAST year I wrote about the defibrillator at Bewdley Row Club where I am a member.

Nineteen members were taught in CPR and how to use the device that can restart the heart of someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest.

It was the case of footballer Fabrice Muamba that brought cardiac arrest (it’s different to a heart attack) to prominence but Bewdley’s reason for having one was much closer to home.

In 2011 at nearby Stourport Regatta we witnessed a competing rower in cardiac arrest.

I later heard that he had made a full recovery and was rowing again.

A couple of weekends ago and, much to my surprise, I met him for the first time, in the pub.

At the age of 58 he is 16 years my senior but he certainly didn’t look it.

He still rows and enjoys a drink (as any good provincial rower would). He said his high level of fitness contributed to his great recovery.

But it is the three defibrillator shocks (ambulance crews and the regatta’s on-site medical team carried them, but the host club didn’t have one of its own) that gave him that fighting chance in the first place.

So there he was, very much alive and speaking of the high level competitions he wanted to take part in later this year.

I told him he was the reason why Bewdley Rowing Club had a defibrillator.

I told him West Midlands Ambulance Service gave the training for free.

He said he hoped his club would have one too.

So do I, but let’s not just leave it there. If you want help getting one, call our community response department on 01743 273677 or e-mail CFRAdmin@wmas.nhs.uk.