A NEW defibrillator has been installed at a busy focal point in a village shopping centre as a tribute to a local man who died tragically earlier this year.
Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council has funded the project in Barley Road, Thelwall following an initiative by family, friends and neighbours of the late Alan Bolton.
Earlier this year, Mr Bolton suffered a heart attack at home.
Several neighbours, including Mandy Danson, rushed to help and immediately recognised a defibrillator was needed.
No-one knew where the nearest defibrillator was and Mandy’s 999 call response directed her to Thelwall Junior School. Fortunately, the caretaker was present and Mandy was able to access the defibrillator. Sadly though, Alan did not recover.
Later, Mandy and Alan’s wife Hazel, felt they wanted something positive to come out of the tragedy.
They felt a defibrillator located near the Barley Road shops would be more accessible in the event of an emergency. Mandy got support for the location from Louise Sutherland, owner of Inches Health and Beauty Studio. She then approached the parish council seeking funding for the proposal.
Cllr Rod Furnell said: “The parish council felt the proposal was very worthwhile. We are very pleased to have funded its purchase and installation. I live in Thelwall so I looked at the availability of defibrillators in the area.
“There were several, but some were only accessible during certain hours and days, and none were in such a visible location as this one now is. In an emergency every second counts, and if we already know where a defibrillator is, then we are not spending precious time in trying to find one.
“This location is a busy focal point in the village, and the defibrillator has an obvious visual presence. Of course, ideally it will never need to be used. But to be sure it always can be, routine inspections and maintenance will be undertaken by the parish council wardens. We are also very grateful to Carol Riley from CR Hair Design for her support in enabling the power supply”.
Hazel and Mandy feel the defibrillator is a fitting tribute to “Alan” – the name that Mandy says she will always affectionately use for it.
