This is thanks to EEAST Heart, a free community initiative launched in 2023, run by volunteers and staff from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Run by volunteers and staff, the scheme aims to equip the public with the skills necessary to react promptly in a medical emergency.

Jonathan Needle, EEAST Heart lead, said: "Our aim is to teach as many members of the public as possible an awareness of what to do in a medical emergency, what actions to take and when, and to give them the courage to make potentially life-changing decisions to help those who need it most."

The initiative is delivered by 124 volunteers and staff and funded entirely by donations to the East of England Ambulance Service Charity.

The sessions cover basic life support and automated external defibrillator awareness.

Kate Lott, head of charity, added: "Reaching this milestone of over 10,000 people trained shows the incredible impact the EEAST Heart volunteers have made.

"There are now thousands more potential life-savers in our communities."