A DEFIBRILLATOR has been installed in Kilcreggan after a local café owner stepped in to help out.

The Garelochhead and Rosneath Peninsula Community First Responders commenced a roll-out of public access defibrillators (PADS) last year to complement their first responder scheme and provide the Peninsula with defibrillators at various locations

In February the group was gifted a donation of £1,300 from a Kilcreggan family in memory of their parents and grandparents who came from and loved the village. They wanted to have a fitting memorial while at the same time providing the village with a piece of lifesaving equipment.

The Bank of Scotland was approached as the location. The outside of the branch at Kilcreggan was requested and approved due to its central location. However, in May the first responders were informed that the use of the bank was no longer an option and an alternative location had to be found.

As a result, café owner Siona Garden was approached and asked to help rescue the project by providing a location for the defibrillator.

Philip McMurray, scheme coordinator, said: “Siona was approached as her café was another key location in the village and without hesitation Siona agreed and on Sunday, June 12 the alarmed cabinet and defibrillator were installed.

“The installation of the defibrillator at Kilcreggan now brings the total of public access defibrillators to five on the Peninsula, with the others being located at Eureka Garelochhead, Castle Caravan Park Rosneath, Cove Burgh Hall in Cove and the Knockderry Country House Hotel in Cove.”

Siona has received many messages of thanks from the community to which she responded: “Thanks everyone, let’s just hope we never have to use it”.

Philip McMurray’s intention as co-ordinator and a first responder is to ensure that no member of the community is more than five minutes away from a defibrillator whether, it be a public access one or one carried by a first responder.

Defibrillators are used when someone is suffering from a cardiac arrest, in an attempt to provide the patient with the best possible chance of survival, whilst an ambulance and first responder group are on route.

At the start of May, Philip undertook a three-day endurance challenge to raise money to purchase a sixth defibrillator for the Peninsula, to be housed within Clynder.

Philip tackled a sponsored cycle from Glasgow to Carlisle via the Ayrshire and Dumfries coastlines, a total of 325 miles in three days.

To date Philip has raised £300 towards the £1,300 needed to purchase a cabinet and a defibrillator while raising another £155 for other charities.

Once the £1,300 is raised the defibrillator will be housed at the Clynder Bowling Club.

As part of the roll-out of the PADS the first responders – via their Heartstart trainer and first responder John Webb – offer British Foundation Heartstart training.

Anyone interested in receiving such training or assist with donations is asked to contact the first responders via the Facebook page