A LIFE-saving piece of equipment has been stolen in Fordingbridge for the second time in four months.

A defibrillator was taken from a cabinet installed on Fordingbridge Sports Club at the Recreation Ground at some point over the weekend.

It was put in place in March 2016 and was funded by the Fordingbridge Community First Responders.

In April, a defibrillator outside The Burgate School was also stolen.

Jack Ansell, operations manager for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS), said: “These thefts are absolutely disgraceful and put local people’s lives at risk.

"When someone is in cardiac arrest, their only chances of survival are by having CPR (chest compressions) and a shock applied from a defibrillator. For every minute that passes with these actions not happening, the patient’s chances of survival reduce by 10%. So in a short period of time, without access to a local defibrillator, a person’s chances of survival soon slip away.”

He added: “They only work unless someone is in cardiac arrest and have little resale value. Stealing them is totally pointless and if the person or persons who took them had a friend or relative locally who collapsed, their actions may mean that person does not survive.”

Andrew Carr, Fordingbridge Community First Responders, said: "The theft of this life-saving device is beyond belief.”

South Central Ambulance Service has loaned Fordingbridge Community First Responders two new defibrillators to replace the stolen units whilst funding for new permanent replacements is raised.

Since April, publicly accessible defibrillators have been used 21 times in the South Central region to help patients in cardiac arrest.

Hampshire Police has been made aware of the thefts.

Earlier this month a defibrillator was stolen from Dexter Sports YFC in Learoyd Road, Canford Heath.