LIFE-SAVING training is to be offered to yet more people in memory of a York woman who died after a suspected heart attack.

A campaign is being launched to train people how to carry out life-saving CPR.

YorMed, an independent ambulance service based in York, is planning to run more of the training sessions from the end of June or beginning of July as part of its ‘York Start a Heart’ campaign, which will be launched at Tesco at Askham Bar.

It hopes to train as many people as possible by holding up to six sessions a day, on one day every month, with about 10 people able to attend each session.

Ben Churchill, YorMed training and development officer, who has set up the campaign with the service’s chief officer Ashley Mason, says the campaign is in memory of his mother-in-law and motor neurone disease sufferer Janine Harris.

Mother-of-five Janine died after a desperate 45-minute battle by carers and paramedics to save her life.

Her husband Steve, of Derwenthorpe, says carers performed CPR on Janine until ambulance crews arrived and took over.

He said: “I found my wife not breathing. It was more of a shock that it was my wife but I didn’t know what to do. Carers were there and performed CPR.

“The CPR kept Janine alive for enough time to give the family a chance to say their goodbyes at hospital.”

He added: “Training sessions should be rolled out to as many people as possible.”

The sessions will be free to enter but any donations will go towards installing new defibrillators across York.

Ben said: “If early CPR can be given it can be vital. That is why this campaign is important.

“The aim is to get about 500 people trained in the first year.” YorMed has already held some training sessions recently, which 55 people attended, including taxi drivers and students

The service, which has its HQ in Little Hallfield Road, is hoping local companies will help with printing of certificates and handouts.

For more information, email ben.churchill@yormed.co.uk