NEWNHAM sub-postmaster Cyril Barnes has been telling how a heart attack driving down the motorway in the fast lane has led to a campaign to save other Forest lives.

After briefly losing his sight following the attack Cyril says he was lucky to be able to pull over and carry on to safety – but he was then hospitalised at Bristol Royal Infirmary for two weeks.

The frightening experience has led him to open a drive to bring heart defibrillator units to his home village and, hopefully, other villages in the Forest.

This week (Wednesday) he was discussing the project with Great Western Ambulance Service representatives.

"I am doing it to hopefully help other people with heart problems," he said.

With his staff at Newnham Post Office recently Cyril was supporting Arrhythmia (heart irregularity) Week, handing out leaflets stressing the importance of knowing how to check your pulse.

The outcome of his stay in hospital was diagnosis of Brugada, a largely genetic disease with irregular heartbeats which can lead to sudden unexpected cardiac arrest – though to be the largest cause of Sudden Death Syndrome.

Using a defibrillator supported his heart's functioning and could do the same for others if readily available.

He and his staff will be manning a stall highlighting the work of the Arrhythmia Alliance at the forthcoming Newnham Street Fair (July 10) where a defibrillator kit will be on display.

"We hope to have one fitted in The Chains in the village in a vandal-proof unit with a coded lock," he said.

"It would be good for other communities in the Forest to have access to one too. If we can save just one life it will be all worthwhile. That's what it's all about."