A beauty queen who is on a crusade to get CPR taught in every school is one step closer to getting the law changed after receiving government and royal backing.
Milla Magee, 23, has been campaigning to get emergency life support skills compulsory in all schools ever since being named Miss England in May this year.
Prince William gave his support to her 'Beauty with a Purpose' project for next year's Miss World during a royal visit to her hometown of Newquay, writes Adam Dutton from SWNS.
Milla has now also teamed up with Noah Law, Labour MP for St Austell and Newquay, to bring her campaign to the attention of Parliament.
Lifeguard Milla has vowed not to stop until CPR is made mandatory in primary and secondary schools across England and the National Curriculum is changed.
Milla, who also volunteers with St John’s Ambulance, said: “With so much conflict in the world this skill has never been as important as it is now.
"I am grateful to Miss England and Miss World for the opportunity to make real change.
"If a person collapses, due to any circumstance, when you perform CPR you are breathing for that person.
"You can keep someone alive until the emergency services arrive. You have the power to save a life with your bare hands, wherever you are around the world.
"It is so important we empower, educate and encourage our younger generations, leaving a positive legacy for them.
"Beauty with a purpose is something to unites us all, and is apart of the legacy we leave behind long after us.
"My 'beauty with a purpose' project was born from personal tragedy, sadly I lost both my grandparents to heart attacks at home before I was born, I never had the chance to meet them.
"If someone at home could have performed CPR both my grandparents may have survived until the ambulance arrived.
"I have visited schools and heard story's of students collapsing and family members collapsing at home.
"If everyone is trained in CPR, starting at a young age, we can help save lives at home and around the world.”
Discussing meeting the Prince of Wales, she added: “Prince William greeted me with a handshake.
"We discussed my project 'Go far with CPR” - a project aimed at bringing CPR and first aid training as compulsory into the school system.
"The Prince acknowledged the importance of CPR, he agreed knowledge of CPR training could be the difference between life and death, and agreed that my project would be best served within educational settings as a life skill needed by the younger generation as standard within the National Curriculum."
Numerous charities and some NHS Trusts have also previously called for CPR and first aid training to be taught at schools.
The government added first aid in schools to the curriculum in 2020 but skills are usually taught by lesson plans and resources rather than practically.
Mr Law, who was elected in July, said: "I am keen to ensure CPR is taught in every school and I'm glad to see Milla raising awareness of its value in saving lives."
Director of Miss England Angie Beasley added: "The Miss World contest encourages candidates to promote a cause they feel passionate about for the Beauty with a Purpose category.
"I think CPR is a very worthy project and something everyone should learn more about."
Milla will be representing England at Miss World in the Spring of 2025.