A DEFRIBRILLATOR which failed to work as paramedics tried to revive a Lancaster man who collapsed and died during a Cricket match is to be tested by a special government agency.

The defibrillator is now at the Medical Devices Agency where it will undergo tests to find out why it failed to deliver a shock as paramedics tried to resuscitate 50-year-old Bob Walker after he collapsed playing for Moor Hospital Cricket club against Milnthorpe on Saturday, May 26.

Steve Johnstone of Cumbria Ambulance Service said: "We expect a report from them within the next two weeks. We have looked at all the other defibrillators we have and there is nothing wrong with them."

Milnthorpe cricketer Joe Waters was bowling at Mr Walker when he collapsed.

Along with Kevin James, a fellow Milnthorpe cricketer and a part-time fireman, he struggled to keep Mr Walker alive with mouth-to-mouth respiration and chest compressions until an ambulance arrived at 6.55pm 11 minutes after the 999 call.

Mr Waters, a qualified first-aider, said: "It was tough -- a minute seems like ten in that situation.

"When we got to him all his colour had gone and he was not breathing, he had no pulse so we started CPR."

The two men managed to get Mr Walker breathing twice before the ambulance crew took over.

But when paramedics tried to revive Mr Walker with an electric shock from a defibrillator, the machine failed.

Mr Waters said: "We carried on with the CPR until the ambulance people got set up, but the defibrillator did not work. Then they changed the battery and it still didn't work. it did not work full stop.

"Questions have to be asked -- the machine should have been checked out -- something was not right about it."

Tim Lynch, director of operations for Cumbria Ambulance Service admitted: "There was a technical failure with it. We do not know what the failure was."

He denied suggestions that the defibrillator's batteries were flat because of rigorous recharging procedures.

Mr Lynch said it was impossible to say whether the failure had contributed to Mr Walker's death as an electric shock was administered within minutes from a second machine brought separately by the Burton-in-Kendal Heartwatch first responders team.

Mr Lynch said: "Of course, these things are rare but when they do happen, it is most unfortunate. As always where there is loss of life, we are deeply sympathetic.

"More so here because its obviously a distressing time and we deeply regret the technical failure."

Mr Walker, who worked at Standfast Dyers and Printers on Caton Road in Lancaster, was an occasional cricketer for the Moor Hospital team, turning out when needed.

Long-time friend and cricket club secretary Mike Hargreaves said the team were shocked by his death and Mr Walkers wife and two daughters were devastated.

"I really don't know what to say. He was one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet. He never had a bad word or a crossed word for anybody," he said.