Two defibrillators have been bought for Porthleven and a third should soon be on its way thanks to a successful fundraising effort in memory of one of the port’s residents.

Retired maths teacher Mike Edwards died on May 4 this year, following a series of heart attacks in which the last proved fatal.

His wife Joyce started a defibrillator memorial fund in his name, for which £600 was raised in a retiring collection at his funeral.

Thanks to a flood of donations two outdoor defibrillators are now on order through the Ronnie Richards Memorial Trust, costing just under £2,000, and Mrs Edwards, together with family friend David Roome who has joined the project, hopes the third will soon be paid for.

Mr Roome and Julia Schofield, who has added her backing, attended last week’s meeting of Porthleven Town Council to ask members to pay £300 towards the cost of the third piece of equipment.

This the councillors readily agreed.

A free training programme will take place for people wanting to learn how to use the equipment, although the defibrillators themselves will talk the user through the steps in case of emergency.

The plan is to place defibrillators on each side of the harbour and another on an upper level of the village.

Boots Pharmacy in Fore Street has already been approached, about allowing the first cabinet to be placed on the wall in Shute Lane.

The cabinet itself is unlocked by the emergency control room upon receiving a 999 call to the ambulance service, while the machine gives spoken feedback such as “go faster” or “push more firmly” to show the effectiveness of the CPR being carried out. The equipment would be available 24 hours a day.