Husband’s Cardiac Arrest Death Spurs Defibrillator Fundraising

A woman whose husband passed away from cardiac arrest has successfully gathered sufficient funds to acquire three defibrillators, stating: ” I cry every time one goes up.” Tina Salway and her husband, Jim, were dancing at a Ska music night at On The Rocks in Cheddar, Somerset, when he unexpectedly collapsed in October 2023. Just over a year later, she has successfully raised money for these devices to be installed throughout the gorge, as well as for a memorial bench at Cheddar Valley Rugby Club. “If these machines save just one life then it will all be worth it,” Mrs Salway commented. “It just feels amazing. I cry every time one goes up,” she added. Mrs Salway had initially planned to purchase a single defibrillator but was able to buy three after collecting £4,250 through an Abba night hosted at On The Rocks. “We had loads of help from the community,” she further noted. “Every single shop gave us a raffle prize.” Mrs Salway mentioned that staff at the rugby club are installing her husband’s memorial bench without charge, and a friend who is an electrician is also fitting the defibrillators at no cost. “Everyone’s been amazing, their help has made all this possible,” she conveyed. She plans to collaborate with the fire service to conduct defibrillator training sessions after Christmas. A second fundraising event is scheduled for the spring, which she hopes will finance an additional three machines. Defibrillators administer an electrical shock to the heart that can assist in restoring a normal rhythm in the event of a cardiac arrest. Guidance on the proper use of such a device can be found on the St John’s Ambulance St John Ambulance website. According to the British Heart Foundation, 7.6 million people in the UK are living with a heart or circulatory disease. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.