CHILDREN and visitors' safety at a York play centre will be boosted after mutual healthcare provider Benenden Health donated £600 towards the cost of a defibrillator.

The equipment, costing more than £1,000, will provide life-saving support for a range of conditions such as cardiac arrest, choking, heart attacks and strokes.

Staff and volunteers at Creepy Crawlies in Wigginton Road decided to start fundraising for the machine after a member of their team’s 11-year-old child saved his dad’s life by giving CPR until the ambulance arrived.

Creepy Crawlies managing director Janice Dunphy said: “We know that acting quickly when someone goes into cardiac arrest is vitally important. It could mean the difference between life and death and having a defibrillator on site with trained staff will give added reassurance to our visitors that we are providing a fun, yet safe environment for children to play in.

“We just needed the final £600 to be able to purchase the machine and we were so thrilled when Benenden Health offered to give us this amount."

Bel Dowson, of Benenden Health, said: “Having a defibrillator on site is really important for an organisation like Creepy Crawlies and with more defibrillators in public places, it can help to provide crucial life-saving support.”