THE man behind a huge lifesaving campaign is supporting it by taking part in the largest obstacle course in the world.

Jason Carlyon, from York, leads Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s Restart a Heart Day, which has taught thousands of children across Yorkshire how to save a life with CPR.

In support of the event, he is planning to take part in Rat Race’s ‘Dirty Weekend ‘ obstacle course - 20 miles of mud, cargo nets, tunnels, slides and freezing cold water.

Jason hopes to raise £1000 to support the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charitable Fund, which funds the CPR training.

Talking about the day, Jason said: “Nothing really happened until 2014 when we picked it up in Yorkshire and visited 50 schools and taught 11,500 kids, and it has grown year on year.

“So this year, on October 16, we will go into about 140 schools.”

The resuscitation manager and other experts teach children in 30 minute sessions, with up to 350 students from each school walking home knowing how to save someone’s life if they go into sudden cardiac arrest.

In England the ambulance services attempt resuscitation of approximately 28,000 people each year, of whom less than ten per cent survive. In countries that have introduced mandatory CPR training survival rates are far higher. In Norway it is 25 per cent.

Jason said: “Eighty per cent of cardiac arrests happen at home, so the chances are that a lot of these kids will see it happen to someone they love one day.

“The chances of someone surviving a sudden cardiac arrest fall ten per cent for every minute after the attack they are not getting treatment.

“That’s why the survival rate is so low.”

To support Jason’s fundraising visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JasonCarlyon