Tipperary rugby star learns life-saving CPR skills in honour of relative who died from heart condition

Irish Heart Foundation's new ambassador Diarmuid Barron has revealed how the death of a young cousin from a cardiac illness inspired him to learn life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills.

Munster rugby star Barron (25), from New Inn, Tipperary, has been trained in CPR by secondary school students at Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher, Co Limerick – and their teacher, Michelle Herbert, who suffered a heart while playing camogie.

Herbert only survived after she received life-saving CPR on the pitch from an opponent.  

Munster hooker Barron, who plays for Limerick side Garryowen, was at the school to present students with a Special Recognition Award as part of the Irish Heart Foundation’s CPR 4 Schools programme.

The programme aims to train the next generation of lifesavers so they can respond swiftly and effectively in a cardiac emergency.

Barron, who this year helped Munster win the United Rugby Championship in South Africa, said he knows from personal experience the devastating impact cardiovascular disease can have on lives.

“A number of my family members have experienced cardiovascular disease and my cousin passed away from a heart condition when she was young,” he said.

“The Transition Year students taught me the correct way to approach a possible cardiac arrest situation, which is to ensure the area is safe, call 112 or 999 stating your location’s Eircode, press hard and fast in the centre of the chest and get someone to find the nearest AED,” Diarmuid said.

CPR trainer and Hazelwood College teacher Michelle Herbert, who survived a cardiac arrest in 2016, said: “The Irish Heart Foundation’s CPR 4 Schools programme is such a fantastic opportunity to get the entire school community involved.

“By learning this skill, you can make a real difference in someone’s life, you can give that person a better chance of life. It really is a life-saving skill that all schools should teach”. 

Barron added that he feels “very proud” to have been asked to join the Irish Heart Foundation as an ambassador. 

“The Irish Heart Foundation is there for people who need help, to support them when they leave hospital after a heart event or stroke or are worried about heart health,” he said.

Thanks to the charity, students and teachers in the vast majority (86%) of second-level schools across Ireland now know how to perform CPR, how to use an AED and what to do when someone is choking.

Katherine Scott, Acting Children and Young People Programme Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation, said with over 70% of cardiac arrests taking place in the home, schools are ideal places to educate young people in CPR.

“We would like to train more post-primary schools and are encouraging teachers to attend our upcoming free training courses”.

If you are a teacher and are interested in bringing the CPR 4 Schools Programme to your school, please contact schools@irishheart.ie.

For more information about CPR 4 Schools, visit https://irishheart.ie/cpr4schools