Life-saving equipment costing £1,000 has been stolen from a Swanley leisure centre, interfering with their essential rehabilitation programme.

Kent Police are investigating the theft of the defibrillator, which was stolen on Saturday night (March 14).

White Oak leisure centre is known for its work with those recovering from heart attacks and cardiac illness.

Their ‘Take Heart’ programme, in which patients undertake closely monitored exercise programmes and counselling, has helped 120 people in the last eight years.

Phase four cardiac rehabilitation instructor Sue Larken said: “The Take Heart programme at White Oak is a really important part of the work done with local rehabilitation patients as they cover from a heart attack or cardiac illness.

“The defibrillator is an essential piece of equipment that enables us to offer people one-to-one supervised exercise as well as running our three times a week Take Heart classes.

“At the moment we are having to borrow the equipment from another centre but that isn’t sustainable.

“If anyone has any information, or can help in any other way, please contact us or the police.”

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The defibrillator was supplied by Darenth Valley Hospital, but the Dartford hospital cannot afford to supply a replacement.

For yesterday’s lunchtime class, staff had to borrow a defibrillator from Sevenoaks Leisure Centre.

Centre staff suspect the thieves thought the defibrillator was expensive exercise equipment.

If you have any information, please ring David Leck 07710326256 or Kent Police on 101.