NEW life-saving equipment in memory of a Buckley man has been unveiled.

The family of Gareth Thomas, known as Tom, donated a defibrillator to the Tea Rooms at the Pet Cemetery in Holywell, which was officially unveiled over the weekend.

Mr Thomas died from a cardiac arrest in September last year at a caravan site in Hereford.

Daughter Alison Shaw said: "His sudden passing whilst on a caravan holiday in Hereford last September has left a massive gap in many people's lives.

"The devastating effects of cardiac arrest come without any warning and had a defibrillator been available, this may have saved his life. In order to provide comfort to those affected by Tom's death, the family wanted to ensure that this situation could possibly be alleviated in the future.

"As the caravan site in Hereford declined the offer of the defibrillator, we as a family decided we would like it to be of benefit to our local community near to home.

"We all are regular visitors to the pet cemetery in Brynford and it seemed quite fitting for it to go there for the benefit of the local community.

"My dad was a very special man and was highly thought of by all who knew him. He will be remembered with fond memories as always having a smile and being a "bit of a joker".

"He was always smiling and was very much a family man."

Donations made at the funeral were put towards funding the life-saving equipment.

Wife Hilary said she bought a static caravan in Mold, but the site already had a defibrillator, and so it was donated to the Tea Rooms.

She added: "If you have a heart attack this equipment is useful but for cardiac arrest, you have to have a defibrillator on site and used within three to five minutes.

"I think it's important. My father died exactly the same, a long time ago, but these things can save lives and they should be around everywhere. But they do cost a lot of money.

"He was a very popular person that's why there was so much money raised."