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Hollywood tough guy Vinnie Jones has been commended for highlighting the importance of a life saving procedure.

Mr Jones, a farmer from Sussex in Petworth who is currently developing the second series of Vinnie Jones in the Country for Discovery+, has announced he will support the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) campaign in spreading awareness about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The former Leeds United midfielder wants to help a quarter of a million people learn the emergency saving procedure by next year through the charity's 'Every Minute Matters' campaign and revealed how he helped to save a life after being trained to perform CPR.

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He made a starring role back in 2012 advert for the BHF about how to perform CPR which went on to save countless lives according to the charity for showing how to perform the technique.

Having starred alongside the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger on the silver screen, Mr Jones has revealed his more gentler side which could help save lives in the future.

An enforcer on and off the football pitch, he has now been tasked with using his unique powers of persuasion to encourage football fans across the nation to step up and learn CPR. 

There have been incidents during football matches across the country where fans in the ground have been involved in medical emergencies.

High-profile incidents on the pitch have also raised awareness about CPR in football.

Former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba and Manchester United's Christian Eriksen both suffered cardiac arrests while playing football.

BHF said a survey of 3,000 football fans said there was a 'significant skills and confidence deficit' surrounding CPR.

Around 42 per cent of fans revealed they had never received CPR training and 45 per cent said would lack the confidence to perform CPR if they found themselves in a situation where it was required. 

The star of Netflix's The Gentlemen, has now helped to spread the word about the charity's free online tool, RevivR, which can teach CPR in 15 minutes using just a phone and a cushion.

Mr Jones said he was placed in a situation where he had to perform CPR in order to save a life in 2015.

He was also very humble about the impact of the 2012 advert which helped former football Tom Dunning to save Lukas Jonassen's life after he suffered a cardiac arrest. 

The former FA Cup winner said: "Out of all my roles on and off the pitch teaming up with Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation might just be one of my most important roles.

"It quite literally could be lifesaving. 

"At the time (in 2012) it was out of the box for me and so powerful that it caught on.

"There was such a strong message in it from me showing how to do it.

"Three years later I had to perform CPR in a restaurant so it was unbelievable how it worked its way around to me.

"BHF are trying to get the message across again.

"Football fans do no feel comfortable performing CPR at the moment.

"And we need to look at how many games are being stopped because of cardiac arrest. 

"Sky Bet's football fan survey shows that low awareness and lack of confidence is holding fans back from stepping up, but the reality is fans have nothing to fear as learning CPR is simple and easy and only takes 15 mins with the BHF's online RevivR tool. 

"That's why, this season I am urging football fans to back the Every Minute Matters campaign and ask themselves one simple question - will they stand by or will they step up to learn CPR and potentially save someone's life.

"By teaming up with the BHF 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."

BHF's chief executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths said: "Vinnie's star turn in BHF's legendary 'Hands Only CPR' ad has played a huge role in helping save countless lives.  

"For so many of us, 'Staying Alive' is the soundtrack of CPR, so it is a joy to have Vinnie backing our Sky Bet partnership to help hundreds of thousands more people learn this lifesaving skill.

"Encouraging 270,000 fans to learn CPR via our RevivR tool will give them confidence to become heart heroes and step up during the ultimate medical emergency." 

How to do CPR on an adult in 5 steps

1) Check for a response. Firmly shake the person's shoulders and loudly ask if they're okay. 

2) Call 999. If the person is unconscious and not breathing, or not breathing normally, start CPR.

3) If there is someone with you, ask them to find a defibrillator. 

4) Start chest compressions. With the heel of your hand in the centre of their chest, press down smoothly and firmly at a rate of 2 per second. Try pushing to the beat of Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees. 

5) Use a defibrillator as soon as you can. Follow its instructions carefully while you continue to give CPR.

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