Fan research from Sky Bet revealed that while many supporters will likely need to use CPR in their lifetime, almost half of fans (44%) have been in a situation where somebody needed CPR, whilst 45% lack the confidence to perform CPR.
Ahead of the big derby game, Cardiff supporter and cardiac arrest survivor Andrew Barnett met with both Swansea City captain Matt Grimes and Cardiff City captain Joe Ralls to help lead Every Minute Matters ambassador and Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer mobilise Cardiff and Swansea fans behind the campaign.
Barnett was playing in a dads vs kids game at his local leisure centre when he suffered a cardiac arrest. His life was saved by duty manager Ben Clarke who administered CPR and swimming teacher Sheila Mott who prepped the defibrillator. He was treated for a blocked coronary artery with a stent and has since made a good recovery.
When the two teams meet this afternoon, Cardiff City and Swansea City players will get behind the campaign by warming up in specially designed Every Minute Matters t-shirts to help raise awareness of the importance of CPR. Perimeter boards at the Cardiff City Stadium will call on fans to learn lifesaving CPR and the campaign will speak directly to fans through messaging in the matchday programme.
It comes as Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Every Minute Matters’ campaign celebrates a major milestone having inspired over 150,000 people to start learning life-saving CPR through the BHF’s online tool RevivR.
Launched in May this year by Sky Bet and the BHF, the groundbreaking campaign is on a mission to donate up to £3 million for the charity and to encourage 270,000 people to learn CPR – equivalent to three Wembley Stadiums.
Lead ambassador Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match against Bournemouth in December 2023. His life was saved by club medics who rushed to perform CPR and provide early defibrillation. Lockyer was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator after he was hospitalised for five days.
Speaking on how crucial learning CPR is Lockyer said:
“CPR is a vital skill that helped save my life and saves thousands more every year. It’s amazing that we’ve surpassed the 150,000 mark, but what’s clear is that we need to bridge this confidence gap.
“Cardiff and Swansea are two of the biggest and best supported clubs in the whole of the EFL so we are keen to get them on board and behind the campaign and show fans that learning CPR is simple, easy and takes just 15 minutes via the BHF’s online RevivR tool.”
Swansea City captain Matt Grimes said:
“I recently had the privilege of meeting Tom Lockyer and his story is so inspiring. I was blown away by his courage and how he’s battling back to try and make a full recovery. What really hit home to me isn’t just that CPR is a lifesaver, it’s that anyone can learn CPR.
“It’s not complicated, you can learn in just 15 minutes with the BHF’s online RevivR tool. That’s why I’m calling on fans of both Swansea City and Cardiff city to put rivalries aside and unite behind the campaign by giving just 15 minutes of time to learn CPR – it could make all the difference and possibly save someone’s life.”
Andrew Barnett added:
“I’m only alive today thanks to CPR. I was lucky that when I collapsed playing football at a leisure centre that there were people around who knew how to perform CPR.
“That’s why I’m so passionate about driving awareness of the Every Minute Matters campaign and its why I want all Swansea and Cardiff fans to step up and show their support by taking 15 minutes out of their day to learn CPR.”
[Lead image: JMP/Ashley Crowden]
