A potentially life-saving defibrillator in Stone High Street has been vandalised.
The unit – which is outside the Co-op – is thought to have been vandalised between 8pm on Monday (21st September) and 7am this morning, when the damage was noticed.
Stone’s AED Donate worked with Stone Lions and the families of Dr Barry Farnham and Mark Symonds, who both died in 2013 from heart attacks, to get the defibrillator unit installed in the High Street. More on the story behind the defibrillator HERE.
The defibrillator can be accessed 24 hours a day using a code given after dialling 999. It then gives automated voice instructions so it can be used safely and quickly. Unfortunately, because of the vandalism, the defibrillator is being kept with customer services inside the Co-op supermarket. AED Donate is working to get the box replaced as quickly as possible and 24-hour public access restored.
Jamie Richards, project director at AED Donate, said: “This stupid behaviour could cost a life, it’s as simple as that. From the damage, it looks like the defibrillator unit has been kicked a number of times. It’s shocking to think that someone could do this. If you saw anything, or have some information, please let the police know.”
West Midlands Ambulance Service Community Response Manager Matt Heward added: “It is extremely disappointing to discover the damage that has been caused and the fact the defibrillator is not going to be available around-the-clock. Stone is a busy area and somewhere we are hoping to install more defibrillators. Unfortunately, money that has been raised to go towards those will now have to be spent on replacing the casing that has been damaged by the vandalism.”
“It is not yet known how long it will take to replace the cabinet and have the defibrillator available 24/7 again. Defibrillators are there in the event of someone having a cardiac arrest; when they stop breathing and their heart stops beating. Unfortunately, if a cardiac arrest takes place in Stone whilst the Co-op is closed, we currently have one less defibrillator available to potentially save a life.”
If you have any information, please contact Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting crime number 144 of 22/09/2015.
