Back at Easter 2021, many of you took part in our virtual Good Friday Relays and contributed to the Elswick Harriers Fundraising target to purchase a defibrillator and cabinet.
At the time, we believed this would be a safeguarding purchase, a bit like the extensive first aid kits many of us carry, that would never be needed but would provide reassurance to everyone around us.
It was installed at Elswick Harriers Headquarters at Newburn Activity Centre, most of us didn’t really think we’d hear much more about it.
On Wednesday 29th September 2021 we were made aware that the defibrillator had been used.
In a shocking and scary turn of events, it transpired that one of our own Elswick Harriers coaches, Tom Hanson, had collapsed when leaving the gym and required lifesaving intervention in the car park.
Luckily, an off-duty nurse and doctor were passing and were able to assist the centre manager Neal Thompson who was administering CPR, and they put the defibrillator to life saving use while an Ambulance was en route.
Tom has thankfully made a full recovery, and a debrief has been conducted with staff involved at the leisure centre, whilst as a club we have had replacement pads added to the defibrillator unit and absorbed those costs, ready to be used again.
The evidence is clear that without the defibrillator, the outcome would have been very different that day.
With the permission of Tom and his family, we wanted to share this story, to thank you again for your kind donations which have saved the life of one of our coaches. And have provided the community in the Newburn area with this essential piece of equipment, which we will look to support long into the future.
Thank you for your support earlier this year with this fundraising – the use of the defibrillator has reinforced our belief of how essential it was.
We are so grateful that, thanks to your donations, we are sharing a story of recovery and positive outcomes, and brings home just how quickly and unpredictably items like that are needed.
Many Thanks
