A YOUNG sportsman who died from a heart attack last year has been remembered at the launch of potentially life-saving equipment in the village where he played rugby.

As part of the East of England Co-operative Society’s ‘Every Minute Counts’ campaign, Great Cornard has become the 25th community to have a defibrillator installed.

The society has provided funding for 100 defibrillators to be added to harder-to-reach locations across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex.

Sudbury Rugby Football Club, which is based in the village, have backed the society’s campaign, having lost their prop Josh Rix, who died in January last year at the age of 23 while he was in Australia. An inquest into his death is due to take place in Ipswich tomorrow.

Author Charlie Haylock, who has lived in Cornard for more than 20 years and played for Sudbury RFC, spoke at the launch of the new defibrillator, which has been added to the outside of the Co-op store in Canhams Road to provide round-the-clock access. The location was chosen by the East of England Ambulance Service.

Mr Haylock’s two sons also played for the club and his grandson is a current member.

He said: “This equipment is essential and could literally mean the difference between life and death. It feels especially significant for our community as we still remember the loss of a young member of our local rugby club.

“This sad loss emphasises that this defibrillator could potentially be used to save the lives of anyone in the community, not just the older generation.

“I am proud to be here as it is installed and pleased to see so many young people come along.”

The rugby club was also represented at the event by an under-10 team player, nine-year-old Jack Fulford, who practised using the new equipment and CPR techniques on resuscitation dolls, guided by Trevor Hammond of the East of England Ambulance Service.