Bunyip community defibrillator damaged
Bunyip CFA brigade captain Simon Sharpe said while key project partner Rotary Club of Garfield and Bunyip had committed to finding the $4000 to replace the device, it would be some time before the defibrillator would be able to be replaced.
Bunyip CFA had led a community project to install defibrillators at each town in its response area, with defibrillators also located in Garfield, Garfield North, Tonimbuk and Tynong.
The project has since expanded to also take in towns such as Nar Nar Goon.
Mr Sharpe said the aim of the project had been to supply the community with 24-hour access in case of sudden cardiac arrest, but it would take a considerable amount of time to replace the defibrillator in Bunyip.
Mr Sharpe said offenders destroyed the cabinet at about 1am on Sunday morning, October 8 before turning their attention to the defibrillator damaging the AED by cutting its wires.
Anyone with any information regarding the incident is urged to contact Bunyip police or Crimestoppers 1800 333000.
The criminal damage in Bunyip follows the theft of a defibrillator from the Coles supermarket in Drouin in August.
That defibrillator had been installed for less than three months.
The importance of a readily available defibrillator was highlighted last week when a woman collapsed in Drouin’s main street.
Rotary Club of Drouin secretary Tim Wills said while the defibrillator had not been required in this instance, it was taken to provide assistance.