Former Wales footballer Vinnie Jones has ?reunited ?with the British Heart Foundation ?to? call on ?everyone in ?the? UK to ?learn CPR and help save lives, following ?the events that have shaken ?the ?footballing world ?this week.??

The football legend? and actor has? recorded? a 40 second advert ?for the nation’s heart charity, ?which will air? during? Thursday’s? (June 17) pre-match coverage of Denmark vs Belgium? on ITV? (at 4.40 pm).??

The ad reunites Vinnie with the British Heart Foundation?(BHF), following his starring role in? 2012’s? ‘Hands-Only CPR’ campaign,? which ?the charity ?says has? led to countless lives being saved.??

In the original ad, Vinnie urged people to “Call 999” and? perform ?CPR by ?pushing ?“hard and fast ?to Stayin’ Alive” if they saw someone suffer a cardiac arrest.??

There are around 2,800 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Wales each year, and every minute without CPR and defibrillation decreases a person’s chances of survival by up to 10 per cent.

However,?the BHF says that ?in countries where CPR is widely taught and public access defibrillators? are? more? readily ?available, survival rates are up to three times as high.??

Vinnie Jones said: ?“Like millions of people around the world, I watched in horror as Christian Eriksen collapsed suddenly last week. But immediate CPR ?and defibrillation? saved his life.??

“By teaming up with the British Heart Foundation once more, I hope we can inspire millions more people to take the time to learn these vital skills. My message is simple - learn CPR and turn yourself into a potential life saver. As Saturday showed, you never know when you might be called upon to help save a life.”?

Following the football events that shook the world on June 12, the BHF has seen ?more than a 2,000? per cent ?increase? in people ?visiting its website? to learn CPR and? find? out ?how to use a defibrillator.? The charity’s website offers video tuition on these life-saving skills.?

Adam Fletcher Head of BHF Cymru said:?“The shocking events of last week have? touched so many ?people around? the world.?There is no doubt that? CPR and the use of? a? defibrillator saved a life.

?But ?today ?the tragic?reality is that ?less than? one in ten people survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest ?and ?far? too many people lack ?the confidence to perform ?life-saving? CPR.?

“We’re? delighted ?to join forces with? Wales footballing legend Vinnie? again to urge people to take ?just? a few minutes, right now,? to learn ?life saving ?CPR.?

“The most important thing to remember is that you must act when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. Call 999, start CPR ?immediately, and ask someone to bring the nearest defibrillator if one is close by.??

“The sad truth? is? that you’re most likely to see a loved one suffer a cardiac arrest.? But by creating a nation of lifesavers, with the confidence to perform CPR ?and use? a? defibrillator, we can? save countless lives of loved ones.”?

The charity has campaigned for many years to create a ‘Nation of Lifesavers’, with the skills and confidence to perform CPR if someone suffers a cardiac arrest.

Learning CPR is now a statutory part of the new Welsh curriculum. The charity continues to campaign to make sure that the new curriculum is implemented and that all children have the opportunity to learn CPR as a vital life saving skill.

To learn CPR visit the following:?www.bhf.org.uk/cpr??