Cleveleys businesses raise money for defibrillator following man's death on high street

Phillips Jewellers on Victoria Road West in Cleveleys asked for donations over the weekend to fund a new defibrillator for the town centre, after realising the current unit had fallen into disrepair.

Owner of the jewellery store, Daniel Thornton, decided a new one was required after assisting a member of the public just over a week ago outside Costa Coffee, who was initially thought to have fallen over.

However, the man was unresponsive, and was later pronounced dead upon arrival at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

It later transpired that a defibrillator machine located outside M&S on the same road no longer had a guardian, and was not in use.

Mr Thornton said: "I was involved in the assistance of a non-responsive male by Costa coffee.

"At the time it appeared he had had a fall and members of the public were attempting to help him to his feet. I went over to lend a hand and before attempting to help him up I lent down to speak with him, but I noticed he was unresponsive.

"Immediately two passers-by started CPR and I continued to monitor signed of breathing, securing his head and trying to get a response.

"I remained and assisted the crews until he was taken, sadly he was pronounced dead on arrival at Blackpool Vic. It had become apparent at this time that the town no longer had a 24-hour public access defibrillator.

"It is not known if a defibrillator would have helped this poor man but the crews did shock him on arrival."

After asking for donations to install a new defibrillator for the town, £700 was raised in just a few days for a cabinet, a 24-hour access defibrillator with first aid kit, a resuscitation kit, torch, emergency blanket and fire extinguisher.

The unit will be installed between Phillips Jewellers and Timpsons on Victoria Road West during the first week of January 2021.

The money was raised as a result of local businesses pulling together, to ensure the town was covered if another medical crisis was to happen.

Mr Thornton continued: "We have a few defibrillators internally in Cleveleys, but many are not technically for public access or within 500 metres of the scene where this happened - which is the bench mark for 999 crew public dispatch.

"The cabinet was approx £600 and many local people and business have quickly covered this especially Wyre scaffolding, World Travel Lounge, First Response Appliances and Hunters Kitchen.

"It will be covered by CCTV, illuminated and alarmed. Cases code given by the 999 operator, and we will also be linking the cabinet to the shop watch radio link system.

"The old cabinet has now been removed to stop confusion.

"We just wanted to make sure that we could help the next person have the very best fighting chance."