A WOMAN whose life was saved by a defibrillator said she is thrilled the machines will be installed in bus and train stations across Northern Ireland.
A total of 134 defibrillators will be installed at more than 80 locations including Translink stations in Ballycastle, Dungannon, Newry and Omagh.
In the north, more than 1,400 people a year suffer an out-of-hospital heart attack - fewer than 10 per cent of which survive.
The scheme, funded by the Department for Infrastructure, is being delivered in partnership with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Northern Ireland and the NI Ambulance service (NIAS).
Lynda Donaldson (61), from Lisburn, suffered a cardiac arrest in Saintfield, Co Down, in 2011.
She survived after bystanders used a nearby defibrillator.
"I was walking down the street with my partner and suddenly felt dizzy.
"I went to put my hand out to Graham to say ‘I don’t feel well’ but I didn’t even get the words out, in two seconds I dropped.
"My heart had gone into cardiac arrest, no pain, no warning, just a couple of seconds of dizziness and down."
Ms Donaldson said she is "forever grateful" that she survived.
"I know more than most how important these lifesaving devices are and I am delighted Translink is leading the way in making more defibrillators accessible," she said.
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon unveiled one of the first defibrillators at Translink's Lanyon Place Station in Belfast yesterday.
"I am committed to ensuring that this life-saving equipment will be available at our bus and rail stations and was pleased to allocate funding of £635,000 to deliver this," she said.
