Luke Ferguson, 26, was revived at footy training after he collapsed.

Mr Cottrill told The Standard that he was thankful there were club trained personnel and a defibrillator at the club.

“If we didn’t have that I don’t think Luke would be here today,” he said.

South West Community Foundation chair Barry Baker said the incident highlighted the need for small communities to have access to defibrillators.

“As is this case, often things happen at an unexpected time and place,” he said.

Mr Baker said it was crucial that rural communities had the capacity to respond in what could be a stressful situation.

He said the foundation recognised the need to support communities that often didn’t have an available ambulance nearby.

Mr Baker said another defibrillator would be given to a community group in the latest round of community grants.

“We’re always happy to hear from people requesting for a defibrillator,” he said.

“It’s important that small communities have the capacity to support each other.”

According to the Ambulance Victoria website the chance of survival doubles if someone is defibrillated before paramedics arrive on scene.

The website stated that it was important that they be easily located and that people didn’t need training to use a defibrillator.

”If someone is in cardiac arrest and an AED is available, simply open it and follow the instructions,” the website stated.