A FOURTH secondary school in the Banbury area is now using a life-saving defibrillator donated in memory of a heart arrhythmia victim.

Bloxham’s Warriner School was given the machine by the family of James Bott in December and held training for staff this month.

The 21-year-old from Banbury died in July 2010 from rare Brugada syndrome, an arrhythmia which caused his heart to stop beating.

His mother Karen Bott, brother Rob Breeze and father Terry have since been diagnosed with the condition. The machines – which provide an electric shock during cardiac arrest – have also gone to Banbury Academy, North Oxfordshire Academy and Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sports College.

The £1,500 needed for the latest machine was raised in an auction with prizes including tickets to Oxford Ice Rink. Mrs Bott said she would continue to raise cash for the devices in memory of her son, who attended Banbury School.

She said: “All schools should have a defibrillator. “We are really pleased we have these four and we will continue to get as many as we can.”

The machines were purchased by cardiac arrest charity SADS UK and training was provided by South Central Ambulance Service.

Warriner business manager Leigh Barmby said: “We are confident that the additional knowledge and skills gained can be used effectively to save lives.”

Anne Jolly, founder of SADS UK, said: “It’s good to know that if sudden cardiac arrest occurs, the schools have a defibrillator quickly available to restart the heart.

“Using CPR alone provides a five per cent chance of survival, but using the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50 per cent.”