In March 2011 English Premiership football player, Bolton Wanderers Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match live on national television. On 14th April the 25-year-old was in Guernsey to unveil the island’s first 24 hour public access automated external defibrillator (AED) at Footes Lane Sports Stadium, an event which was covered by all of the local media. Chief Officer Jon Beausire and Senior Officer Dean De La Mare attended the ceremony.
Fabrice’s heart stopped for 78 minutes and a defibrillator was used to revive him before it started again. Now he doesn’t play football anymore, but has dedicated himself to improving heart care and facilities. Fabrice Muamba was invited to unveil the AED as it’s partly thanks to an on-hand defibrillator that he’s alive today.
The AED has been purchased by the Guernsey Cardiac Action Group with funds raised at the Guernsey 2012 Skipton Swimarathon. A further eight public access AEDs are to be sited in the coming months at various locations around the Island. Permission has also been granted for an AED to be placed outside of the St James Concert Hall in Guernsey in the coming weeks. After placement these AEDs will be handed over by the Guernsey Cardiac Action Group and become the responsibility of St John Ambulance and Rescue Service.