A GENEROUS Kennet garage is this week being thanked for installing the village's very first public access defibrillator.

The life-saving piece of equipment has been installed at Foz Sports Bodyshop with thanks going to owners David and Hazel Forster.

In a generous gesture, which came after people started raising funds for a device in Clackmannan, David took it upon himself to secure the defibrillator and cabinet, pay for the installation and ongoing maintenance costs for the automated external defibrillator (AED) at the garage.

Helen White, of Clackmannan Community Council, told the Advertiser: “Hopefully, we don't have to use it, but it's good to know that it's there.”

The device, which has been registered, could be particularly useful in what is a rural area of the Wee County.

“He [garage owner David] is very generous towards the community, to Kennet, and he is very generous to Clackmannan Community Council.

“He is a very busy businessman so for him to take the time to do that and arrange all that, I think he should be commended."

Much like the many similar devices which have been installed across the Wee County in recent years, the defibrillator speaks and gives instructions, but CPR is a vital skill which must also be employed should the need arise.

The defibrillator could save a life in a cardiac arrest emergency when every second counts – always call 999, start CPR then deploy the defibrillator.