A boy from Eggar’s School in Alton has used a defibrillator to save a neighbour’s life.

Year 11 pupil Jack Palmer was home alone on December 13 when a neighbour came over saying her husband had had a cardiac arrest.

Jack’s mother Janet Palmer said: “My husband Brent works in the medical industry and we have a defibrillator in our downstairs toilet. I notified all our neighbours when we moved here, should anyone ever need it.”

Jack went next door and used the defibrillator, administering two shocks as well as chest compressions. A fire crew and paramedics who attended said later that Jack had saved his neighbour’s life.

Alton firefighters contacted Eggar’s headteacher Sarah Holman to share the story of Jack’s courage and bravery, saying it had “lifted the spirits” of fire crews and sent “ripple effects” across the community.

Mrs Holman gave Jack a framed Head Teacher’s Commendation certificate for his efforts, and said she believed him being in the Air Cadets had helped Jack when he was faced with that situation.

She said: “For Jack to have acted so swiftly and effectively under immense pressure, and to have saved this neighbour's life, is truly amazing.

“We are hugely proud of how Jack put his Cadets training into action when the need arose.”

Jack’s neighbour Tony spent Christmas in hospital but is now “making progress”. Talking to Mrs Holman, he said: “Without Jack it would have been a whole different story.”

Tony’s wife Elaine added that Jack was “very calm under pressure and did all the right things”. Tony and Elaine said: “We are both eternally grateful that there was such a mature young man who stepped in to help our family in a time of need.”

Janet said: “We are extremely proud of him. Both my husband and I are ex-registered nurses, however Brent continues to be very involved in the medical field for his job. He has shown Jack how to use a defibrillator in the past.

“We are both very aware that defibrillation is the most effective treatment for a cardiac arrest, therefore early access is critical to survival.”

Jack is keen to spread the message of the importance of defibrillators - and he will be doing so in person this week, as he delivers the Herald on his paper round in Holybourne every Thursday!

Janet said: “As much as Jack is quite a private person, he appreciates his story could encourage other young people, to know they too can make a difference.”