The first in a number of defibrillators set to be put in place across Glossopdale has been installed outside a Hadfield pub.

It’s thanks to the efforts of Val Cochrane, the community paramedic for Glossopdale, and Anthony Doyle who set up the Glossop Community Defibrillator group to raise the money needed.

Anthony started the group after one of his friends suffered a cardiac arrest last Christmas Eve and was saved by one of the devices.

The first defibrillator has been paid for entirely by Hadfield company Carpenters, who also funded the cabinet and installation outside the New Lamp on Bankbottom.

Anthony told the Chronicle: "The response to our fundraising has been excellent. Not only did Carpenters fund the first defibrillator entirely, but they have also agreed to register their own device which is kept in the gatehouse on Newshaw Lane. The gatehouse is always manned so it’s available 24 hours a day.

"We’re hoping that many more local companies will follow suit, register theirs and allow them to be used by the public in an emergency.”

Val added: "Defibrillators are vital and we simply don’t have enough of them in the Glossop area. They are saving lives every day. They are so easy to use. You just ring for an ambulance and they give you a code that opens the device at your location. You will also be talked through the procedure by a paramedic. You cannot do any harm to a patient with a defibrillator.”

Anthony said: "We’ve just ordered another eight defibs which will be installed around the area in the coming weeks. They cost around £1,200 to £1,500 each, so we will carry on fundraising. Some local companies have already agreed to make theirs available for public use, and we’d urge other firms to do the same. By mid January there will be 10 more defibs available around the Glossop area, which weren’t there before.”

Val said: "In the UK only five per cent of people who have a cardiac arrest, come out of hospital and are able to live a normal life. In Seattle, USA, they have defibs on every street corner. Fifty-five per cent of people who suffer cardiac arrest there come out of hospital and are able to live normally. Glossop definitely needs more.”

The next defibrillator will be installed at the One Stop Shop in Gamesley. Then on Christmas Eve another will be placed at the Queen’s Arms pub in Old Glossop.

Anthony and Val say their fundraising efforts will continue in the New Year.

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