Manx Telecom and Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation will install defibrillators in a number of payphone kiosks around the island.

The announcement came from Manx Telecom who were responding to the appeal by the charity for more defibrillators to be available.

Defibrillators will be placed in phone kiosks that are being taken out of service due to low usage.

Paula Lunt, founder of Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation (pictured), said: ’This is brilliant news for the Isle of Man as it will enable more defibrillators to be distributed around the island.

’We are delighted - and very thankful - that Manx Telecom has chosen to use redundant telephone kiosks in this way.’

Exact locations for the defibrillators will be decided following talks with the foundation and the island’s ambulance service.

Manx Telecom CEO, Gary Lamb, said he was ’very happy’ the kiosks would be put to ’good use’.

He said: ’We are delighted to make our old payphone kiosks available for such life-saving equipment and to fund the defibrillators themselves as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the local community.

’Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation has done such a great job here on the Island to raise awareness of the value of defibrillators as well as getting young people through the heart screening programme with Cardiac Risk for the Young.’

This follows the recent cardiac arrest suffered by Danish footballer Christian Eriksen during a European championship match.

The company announced earlier this year it was giving notice of decommissioning on a number of payphone kiosks where less than 40 calls a year were made.