Oxford City Football Club staged a CPR course after former player Darren Davies survived cardiac arrest.
Club personnel and players attended a practical session run by REACT: Emergency Response Training on October 16, marking World Restart a Heart Day.
Participants received instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillator operation and the appropriate response to a cardiac emergency.
Alfie Potter, a member of the men’s first team, and Grace Craven of the women’s first team, took part.
Davies, who founded REACT, led the programme.
Davies’ association with Oxford City dates back to the 1980s, when he played for the club’s youth side at the White House Ground.
Following his playing career, he coached children’s teams and Oxford City Nomads and served as a committee member.
Davies operated a personal training studio based at the ground for over five years before moving into work with the NHS.
On March 2, 2024, Davies experienced a sudden cardiac arrest at home after swimming and undertaking strength training at a gym.
His heart ceased beating, and his wife started CPR after refreshing her knowledge only weeks earlier.
Paramedics delivered three shocks with a defibrillator, while Thames Valley Air Ambulance also attended.
Davies remained in hospital for approximately two weeks before an ICD was fitted.
Davies credited his survival to another person possessing the required knowledge and confidence to act without hesitation.
That experience prompted him to establish REACT, which teaches sports clubs, businesses, schools and community groups about first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillators.
He is a qualified first-aid trainer and assessor with FAIB accreditation.
Davies has also founded Heart Safe Sport CIC, which seeks to increase awareness of CPR and defibrillators throughout grassroots sport.
The organisation works to equip coaches with the ability to identify cardiac arrest, carry out CPR and operate a defibrillator.
Observed annually on October 16, World Restart a Heart Day encourages people to acquire CPR skills and respond swiftly to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
The condition can affect anyone, and beginning CPR without delay, contacting emergency services through 999 and using an AED may improve the likelihood of survival.
Medical training is not required to assist.
Oxford City’s commercial lead, Kelly Whitehead, said the club was supporting the event by hosting Davies.
She explained that each occasion when a person learns CPR, practises chest compressions or gains greater confidence with a defibrillator creates the possibility of saving a life.
The club said Davies would be welcomed back soon.