Defibrillators have been installed for the first time ever across the London Underground and Overground network.

This means every single borough will have a TfL defibrillator that any commuter can access in order to help someone in cardiac arrest.

Last year the London Ambulance Service (LAS) responded to approximately 13,000 cardiac arrests.

The Mayor made the announcement at Highbury and Islington Underground station to mark World Restart a Heart day.

Estelle Williams, a 999 call supervisor now working as a trainee clinical tutor at LAS, sprang into action after Eddie collapsed and stopped breathing while watching TV.

She used the skills learned in her LAS CPR training and was able to keep Eddie's heart pumping oxygen to his brain until an ambulance arrived. Eddie survived, and has just celebrated his 72nd birthday.

Londoners will also be able to find heart-shaped QR codes on every defibrillator in the TfL network.

These QR codes take you straight to a video on City Hall's website which will show you how to perform CPR and use the defibrillator, using techniques from the LAS London Lifesaver training.

The LAS has also today launched the London Lifesavers campaign in schools, starting with Year 8 students.

More than 200 students from six schools will be trained with CPR and how to use a defibrillator at City Hall today.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "For every minute that goes by without life-saving intervention like CPR and defibrillation, the chances of a person surviving cardiac arrest decrease by 10 per cent.

"That's why I've made good on my commitment to maximise the numbers of defibrillators across the city, and worked with TfL and LAS to ensure every underground and overground station as well as major bus stations, dial-a-ride vehicles and all TfL piers have one publicly available."

Lilli Matson, TfL's Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer said: "We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with the Mayor and our colleagues in the London Ambulance Service to support this vital life saving initiative.

"We know every second counts when saving a life, so we are pleased that as well as having first-aid trained staff at stations, our customers will have quick access to a defibrillator across the Tube and Overground."

Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive of London Ambulance Service said: "We are proud to support this life-saving programme to install defibrillators across the TfL network, and delighted to see it officially launch today.

"We want London to be one of the best cities in the world when it comes to responding to cardiac arrest."

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