A regional daily has joined forces with the family of a teenager who died of suspected heart failure to launch a campaign for defibrillators in schools.

The South Wales Argus has launched Jack’s Appeal in a bid to get defibrillators installed in every secondary school in Gwent.

For the campaign, the paper has teamed up with the family of Jack Thomas, a 15-year-old who died suddenly in February 2012 after becoming unwell at his girlfriend’s house.

His family have set up a heart charity in his memory and last year presented his school, Oakdale Comprehensive, with a defibrillator, a portable device which delivers an electric shock to a person in cardiac arrest.

The Argus said its campaign, also run in partnership with the charity Welsh Hearts, could help save lives and called on its readers to donate funds to buy the defibrillators, which cost £1,000 each.

A comment piece by editor Kevin Ward said: “Our collective aim is to get a heart defibrillator installed in every secondary school in Gwent. A defibrillator is a machine that delivers an electric shock to the heart when someone is having a cardiac arrest.

“Reaching our goal will not be easy. Each machine costs around £1,000. We know we live in tight economic times – but we also know how generous our readers have proved to be time and again. We are sure that will be the case again with this appeal.

“Jack’s mum June says defribrillators should be everywhere. We think every secondary school is a good start.

“We are grateful to Jack’s family for agreeing to lend their beloved son’s name to this appeal. And we are thankful to Welsh Hearts for agreeing to take donations. Please help.”

The paper reported that Jack, who represented Wales in taekwondo and had no previous health issues, was watching a rugby match at his girlfriend’s house when he suddenly began feeling unwell.

An inquest held last year ruled that the teenager died of natural causes but the specific cause of death could not be identified, leaving his mother June and her husband Grant searching for answers.

A charity set up in Jack’s memory, called CRY in the Valleys: Jack Thomas Memorial Fund held with Cardiac Risk in the Young, has already raised £23,000 towards getting heart screenings in schools.