Shocking number of North East residents wouldn't start CPR if someone had a heart attack

People are dying because passers by are too scared to carry out CPR – a heart charity has claimed.

The British Heart Foundation said 85% of people would not give CPR if someone suffered a cardiac arrest due to a lack of knowledge.

Every minute without CPR increases a person’s risk of death by around 10%.

The BHF survey found that just 41% of people in the North East would feel confident giving CPR to a stranger, citing concerns about causing more harm than good.

However, more than a third of North East residents feel they lack the skills and knowledge to perform CPR at all.

Mike Jones, 63, from Nedderton near Bedlington, had his life saved by CPR when he suffered a cardiac arrest on June 19 after a game of table tennis.