POTENTIALLY life-saving defibrillators are being installed in schools.

Sussex-based charities Rockinghorse and the Connor Saunders Foundation have joined forces to provide 10 of the machines to schools across Brighton and Hove and surrounding towns.

Rockinghorse has provided the funding for the machines and training sessions for pupils and teachers at first aid workshops have been organised by the foundation.

The foundation was formed following the death of Connor, 19, in April 2012 after he suffered a single punch outside a supermarket in Rottingdean.

The charity works to donate defibrillators to schools and sports clubs and also talks to children about the importance of making the right choices in life.

Rockinghorse is the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton and also supports other children’s health services in the county.

About 12 young people die every week from sudden cardiac arrest.

Of these, 270 are children who will die at school and 80 per cent of those will have had no previous symptoms.

Having access to a defibrillator can be life-saving. For every minute that a person is in cardiac arrest, their chances of survival drops by 10 per cent.

Nine schools have now had the machines installed, including St Luke's Primary, Elm Grove Primary, Middle Street Primary, Northease Manor, Seahaven Academy, Varndean, Swiss Gardens Primary, Chyngton Primary and Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA).

Saltdean Primary will be the tenth school to receive a defibrillator next month.

Rockinghorse head of fundraising Analiese Doctrove joined Darran and Courtney Connor from the Connor Saunders Foundation for the presentation event at PACA.

She said: “The year seven pupils were really engaged by the session and it is was great to see the teachers getting involved as well.

“We have been really excited to work with the Connor Saunders Foundation and help them to reach even more schools in the local area.”

Darran Saunders, who was Connor Saunders’ mother, said: “As a family who lost the most precious gift of all, we made a conscious decision that Connor’s life made it possible and his death made it necessary for us to continue his legacy of saving lives.

“Supplying ten defibrillators to schools enables them to be heart safe and this life-saving piece of equipment gives peace of mind to the staff, parents and pupils at each of those schools.”