A RUGBY player from Pontypool has joined two fellow stars from the women’s game to raise awareness for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Megan Doyle, who plays at hooker for Cardiff Met, joined Olympian Jasmine Joyce and Welsh international Ffion Lewis for the restart a heart day 2016, which is today.

The aim of the awareness day is to highlight the importance of bystander CPR, as in cases of cardiac arrest, survival rates drop by 10 per cent every minute if resuscitation is not started.

“The Restart a Heart Day CPR training can only benefit everyone who takes part,” said the Pontypool-born player.

“It will be a skill that youngsters will have for the rest of their days, and they may well end up saving numbers of lives.”

Dr Brendan Lloyd, medical director for Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “Many people don’t realise that if someone suffers a cardiac arrest in front of a bystander, who immediately starts CPR before the arrival of the ambulance service, their chances of survival double.

“Currently in the UK, bystanders only get involved in doing CPR in 43 per cent of cardiac arrests, compared to 73 per cent in Norway where the survival rate is considerably higher.

“The evidence in favour of members of the public learning CPR is obvious,” added Dr Doyle.

“So by having as many secondary schools as possible taking part in Restart a Heart Day 2016, it has enabled our staff and volunteers to pass on their skills to pupils who will then have this valuable skill for life.”