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

MUNSTER Rugby's 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.

Barron, who recently helped Munster win the URC 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 Munster hooker has been trained in CPR by secondary school students at Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher, and their teacher, Michelle Herbert, who also suffered a cardiac arrest in 2016 while playing camogie. 

Herbert said “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.” 

After learning the vital CPR skills Diarmuid added that he felt “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.” 

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.