A LIFE-SAVING defibrillator bought by a heart attack survivor has been installed at a shopping centre.

Neil James decided to get a machine for his home town of Horsham after one was used to save him last year.

The ceremony took place as it emerged 40 schools, businesses and organisations across Sussex have now signed up to The Argus Save a Life campaign.

The campaign, launched last October, is calling for organisations to install a defibrillator on their premises.

There are up to 1,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Sussex every year and about a fifth of these happen outside the home.

Survival rates are just five to 10 per cent compared to other countries but having more defibrillators available could help at least double that number.

Defibrillators are safe and easy to use and people do not need training to use them.

Those signing up have included the Hilton Brighton Metropole and the Waterfront Hotel in Brighton, and DJ Fatboy Slim’s Big Beach Cafe in Hove.

Mr James, 54, was on a fishing trip with work friends and colleagues near Uckfield when he had a heart attack.

His life was saved by paramedics using a defibrillator.

The new machine has been placed at the West Street entrance to Swan Walk shopping centre, next to the Wilkinsons store.

Mr Jones said: “I would like to see far more defibrillators accessible for the public to use in an event of real emergency.

“Without doubt these pieces of equipment save lives.

“In an event of real emergency the general public should not be frightened to use them. I’ve been told they are simple to use and my family have learned how to use them.

“By intervening and helping the person with this piece of kit you are giving them a real chance to live.”

Horsham GP Liz Fisher, from Park Surgery, said: “I’m delighted this defibrillator has been donated by a Horsham resident after surviving a cardiac arrest and being successfully defibrillated with a similar machine.

“Effective CPR and early defibrillation with a machine like this one doubles your chances of going home alive from hospital after having a cardiac arrest.”