Three potentially life-saving defibrillators have been installed in memory of a man who died from cardiac arrest aged just 40-years-old.

Sam Cowie, from Walmer, near Deal, suffered a cardiac arrest at his home on July 22 last year.

A first responder arrived with a defibrillator within six minutes and the ambulance close behind.

His girlfriend Sophie Morrish administered CPR with guidance from emergency services.

But Mr Cowie sadly died in hospital six days later, on July 28.

Now, friends and family have raised funds to help install machines locally, and hope to also raise awareness as to where they can be found.

His mum, Jocelyn Cousins, said: “We were all so completely devastated when he was taken from us so suddenly and we still are.

“Sam was healthy and not even overweight.

“He would suffer indigestion [possible symptoms of a heart attack] but that ran in the family.

“We hope we can at least save other lives.

“One of Sam’s last selfless acts was to leave instructions for the donation of his vital organs.”

Since last summer, more than £5,500 has been raised for three machines that are now in place at the Paydens Chemist in Walmer, the Coastguard pub at St Margaret’s Bay and the Smugglers pub at St Margaret’s at Cliffe.

Plaques for each one say: “In loving memory of Sam Cowie, for anyone in need.”

The machines were paid for through a crowdfunding page set up by family friends Cheryl and Martin Scholfield last August.

With money still being donated, it is hoped a fourth defibrillator could also be purchased.

Mr Cowie, a maintenance worker, was originally from St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, attending the village primary school and then going on to St Edmund’s secondary school in Dover.

He was a nature lover who rescued and adopted animals.

His hobbies included riding off-road motorbikes and curating bonsai trees for his Japanese-inspired garden.

His mum added: “Sam had very many friends.

“On the day of his remembrance, there were well over 200 people, many of them standing throughout the two-hour service.”

Mr Cowie’s late father, Irvine Cowie, of St Margaret’s, died suddenly of a heart attack at his home on February 5, 1997.

Again this was a sudden shock to the family as he was healthy and not overweight.

He was a popular local figure, best known for running Walmer Paddling Pool from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s.

To donate to the defibrillator cause in memory of Sam Cowie visit the family’s GoFundMe page.

The BHF has a web page detailing how to use one, while defibfinder.uk lists places where defibrillators can be found.

The British Heart Foundation says a heart attack is when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked.

The heart loses blood supply and therefore oxygen.

A cardiac arrest is different in that the heart stops pumping blood around the body and the victim stops breathing normally.

A defibrillator is specifically used to treat cardiac arrests by giving a high energy electric shock to the the heart.