A BURNHAM mum says she is ‘overwhelmed’ by the support from the community after an appeal to pay for life-saving equipment for her two-year-old son hit its target in just 24 hours.

Charlie Rayner launched an online appeal on Friday to raise £1,500 for a defibrillator for Jack who suffers from a condition called Long Qt Syndrome.

It means his heart rate can increase suddenly to a dangerous speed which could cause a heart attack.

Charlie, of Ayckbourn Close, said she was stunned by the response from the community, especially as almost half the total was given by one Highbridge business.

Charlie said: “It was just overwhelming. I was in a state of shock to be honest.

“I’m so grateful to the people have donated, people who don’t even know us, it was just unbelievable.”

More than £700 was donated by Gareth Heffernan and Steve Chedzoy who heard about the appeal through friends on Saturday.

The co-owners of Motorfix Auto Centre in Highbridge, who had no prior connection to Charlie or Jack, decided to make up whatever else was needed to ensure Charlie could get the defibrillator as soon as possible.

Gareth said: “Both Steve and I felt the same that it just seemed like such a small amount to potentially save this little boy’s life.

“We’ve had a lot of support from the community and this is our way of giving something back.”

The defibrillator means that Charlie will be able to save Jack’s life if he ever has a heart attack, a situation the family faced in 2012.

Then only a few months old, Jack’s life was saved thanks to Charlie performing 12 minutes of CPR before paramedics arrived.

Since then the toddler has been prescribed a drug to help control his heart rate but the risk of a recurrence is always present.

Charlie and her partner, Matt Cooke, were advised by their cardiologist to buy the portable defibrillator.

Charlie said: “We have to be so careful with him, anything like a fire alarm or even a dog barking could be fatal.

“The defibrillator will make such a difference to us.

“I honestly don’t have the words to say how thankful I am to Gareth and Steve and everyone else in the community who donated.”