STUDENT Chris Taylor is planning to become the first person to finish the London Marathon – complete with a rare heart condition and a defibrillator fitted to his chest.

The 22-year-old will have to walk the famous 26-mile 385-yard course because of his condition.

But Staffordshire University student Chris is determined to make history by walking down The Mall on April 22.

Third year geography student Chris was first diagnosed with the heart condition at three months old and now has drugs to stay healthy.

The defibrillator implant stops Chris falling into cardiac arrest by delivering an electric shock to re-start his heart.

Chris, of College Road, Shelton, said: "I've tried to run the marathon several times before, but have failed to win a place. However, this year, I've managed to be successful and I'm excited.

"It's always been a dream to take part in the marathon and now I can."

Chris suffers from left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle condition where the muscular wall of the main pumping chamber of the heart is 'non-compacted'.

Chris has always taken beta blockers, which help to reduce the workload on the heart to prevent further complications.

But Chris has now had the defibrillator implant fitted after suffering a cardiac arrest last year.

Chris recalls: "I was lying in bed and all of a sudden I felt really ill.

"I called my parents and they said that I should call the doctors, and they confirmed that I was going into cardiac arrest.

"The doctors knew that it would happen at some point in my life as it is part of the condition but they couldn't be too sure how serious it was.

"It was a traumatic experience and luckily wasn't fatal."

Chris had his defibrillator fitted during an operation in April.

He said: "The implant stops me from going into cardiac arrest again, and it's made my life a little bit more normal.

"Having this condition isn't going to stop me from getting on with life, because I just won't let it."

Chris, who also volunteers at Hassell Primary School, in Newcastle, is to complete the marathon in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

He added: "I've let fund-raising for the charity take over my life and they do some superb work. Being the first person to do the marathon with my condition and with a defibrillator implant is a tough challenge, but I'm going to do all I can to finish the race."

Dad Tommy Taylor, aged 48, said: "I'm extremely proud of Chris and pleased that he has got this opportunity. I can't wait to cheer him on."

Donations can be made in aid of Chris's challenge by following the link http://www.justgiving.com/christaylormarathon.