A FREE heart defibrillator training session was held in Newport on Monday night.

Welsh Hearts, a new charity that is going from strength to strength, arranged the event at the Hilton Hotel, in Langstone, to teach people how to use the machine.

The heart charity, in partnership with The Welsh Ambulance Service, held a two-hour session on how to give Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, commonly known as CPR. There was training given on how to use a defibrillator – a lifesaving machine used to shock a heart back into its normal rhythm after cardiac arrest.

It’s part of Jack’s Appeal which sees the Argus team up with the parents of Jack Thomas, the 15-year-old Oakdale tae kwon do star who died two years ago from a heart condition.

His parents, Grant and June Thomas, want secondary schools in the area to have a defibrillator in his memory. The campaign has been backed by organisations, schools and individuals, including Welsh Hearts.

Sharon Owen, the charity’s director, said it’s important for people to be trained in using the machines, as they become widely available.

She said: “Everybody is realising they need a defibrillator in school.

“We will be holding another one in May ahead of the Summer Ball.”

l Tickets for the Summer Ball, in Jack's memory are £45, and include a drinks reception and a meal. It will be at the Hilton, Langstone, on June 7. For details call 02920786521 or email fundraising@welshhearts.org

To donate to Jack’s Appeal, send cheques made payable to Welsh Hearts charity, to Temple Court, 13a Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9HA, or to Newsdesk, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Newport NP20 3QN. Write “Jack Thomas defibs appeal” on the back of the envelope.