A brave teenager with the same rare heart condition as footballer Fabrice Muamba got the chance to turn on a village Christmas lights.
Blake Calverley, 18, won the honour of turning the lights on at Lowergate Road and at Burnley Road, Huncoat, on Monday, December 2.
Blake, of Sandy Lane, Accrington, is one of only two people in the country to be fitted with a defibrillator under his skin as he suffers from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
The condition caused former Bolton Wanderers Fabrice Muamba’s heart to stop in an FA Cup match at Tottenham in March 2012.
Doctors told the teenager he may have died by now from without the device.
Blake, who is on a waiting list for a heart transplant, said he had enjoyed performing the switch-ons and was pleased to be asked.
He said: “It was very entertaining. My mum was there with me as well and Huncoat Primary were singing Christmas carols. I'm glad I did it.”
Blake's mum Dawn said it had been a high point for the youngster in a difficult year.
She said: “I'm so proud of him.
"When he finished doing the second one on Burnley Road he said 'I feel like it's Christmas now'.
“When he came home he said he loved it was really good.”
She added the first switch-on had been well attended by around 100 people with fewer attending the second event at Burnley Road.
Huncoat Coun Dave Parkins said it was a great evening, which everyone enjoyed.
He added: “I'd like to thank Craig Elliot and Dave Larraway for sorting the lights out - it was a real partnership effort and it was great to see it all come together." See pages 8-9 for Accrington lights switch-on picture special.
