In the wake of Christian Eriksen's sudden cardiac arrest playing for Denmark in the UEFA European Championships in 2021, the Premier League launched a scheme to install defibrillators at grassroots clubs.
Since then, the Premier League Defibrillator Fund has installed 2,000 defibs across England and Wales, in partnership with the Football Foundation and The FA.
Although it is hoped that they are never needed, the use of defibs in a medical emergency can be the difference between life and death.
That was the case last October when Dave Orton suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed to the ground while playing for his walking football group at Saffron Dynamo FC in Leicestershire.
Thanks to the reactions of his quick-thinking team-mates, who administered CPR and attached a Premier League defibrillator, Dave has made a full recovery and is back playing the game he loves.
"I am very lucky," Dave says. "If I'd been walking in the park and I had a cardiac arrest with no defibrillator around, no CPR, who knows?
"That defib is a lifesaver, it really is. What an amazing piece of equipment. I owe my life to the defibrillator and to my friends who did so much on the day.
"The fact that the Premier League are involved in this is brilliant and that their investment in grassroots facilities means a lot to me. The more defibrillators that there are and the more people that are aware of what it does and how it works, many more lives will be saved because of what they're investing in."
Last week, Dave and his friends were preparing for their twice-weekly walking football session when Leicester City title-winning captain Wes Morgan dropped in for a surprise visit as part of the Premier League's More than a game celebration.
Wes was able to learn more about the incident and the role of the defib before presenting Dave with a Leicester City shirt. He then took to the pitch to join in with the action.
"It's fantastic work that's been done here," Wes says. "Having a defib and having players that know CPR and responsive medical care, is vitally important. Dave's story shows how critical it is.
"If it wasn't for a defib that was handy, the situation could have been a lot different. Facilities have been provided with defibrillators and it's saved a life."
"I am meeting someone who is lucky to be alive. It resonates with me because it just goes to show that life is short, anything can happen at any time, and thank God that the players, and the defib, were there to intervene and help him."
The visit was an extra-special moment for Dave, a Leicester City season-ticket holder who has many fond memories watching his club win the Premier League Trophy in 2016.
"Meeting Wes was lovely, it was fantastic," Dave said. "It was so nice that he came to see me and that we were able to play football with him as well. It was hard work, he's too good for us!
"It just makes you realise what a great bunch of guys footballers are, they do so much for their local communities. The lads loved him being with us. It was a great afternoon."
It is estimated that approximately 1.5m people play at the facilities where the 2,000 Premier League Defibrillators are now installed.
The defibrillators are placed within 200m of the pitches and according to Aston Villa club doctor Ganeshan Ramsamy, having them so close to where they are needed is vital.
"With every minute that passes in a cardiac arrest without CPR or a defibrillator, your chances of surviving a cardiac arrest reduces by 10 per cent, so early access to a defibrillator is so important," he says.
"Lots of people see a defibrillator and think it's a complex bit of kit but it gives you all the instructions and you don't need formal training to use it. That's why I just encourage anyone who spots a collapse and recognises that someone is in cardiac arrest to perform CPR and get help to find their closest defibrillator and put it to use immediately.
"Dave's story really represents the reason why these defibrillators are being installed, why there should be more awareness about using one and knowing where your closest one is.
"This is a great initiative. For me to see that a player has been saved at a grassroots club is a fantastic representation of the reach that the Premier League has."
Find out more about how to complete The FA Education Sudden Cardiac Arrest online course.
About More than a game
More than a game highlights the positive impact of Premier League investment into communities and all levels of football.
The League is investing £1.6billion into wider football, the grassroots game and communities between 2022 and 2025.
This includes funding for community projects run by 164 professional and non-league clubs, supporting people of all ages who need it most, as well as providing much-needed funding to non-league, grassroots and women’s clubs to enhance stadium facilities for players and fans.
