Kentish Express Ashford & District
Defibrilator helped save church bell-ringer’s life
Donated gift ‘gave gentleman the chance of surviving’ Exclusive
Worshippers saved the life of a church bell-ringer after he suffered a heart attack moments before Sunday service started.
Ambulance crews were called to St Mary the Virgin Church in Willesborough after reports that a man had collapsed.
The Rev John MacKenzie was about to give his sermon to the congregation when he was approached by a member of the bell ringers.
He said: “Just as I was about to start, one of the bell ringers came down to ask for the defibrillator machine and said the gentleman had collapsed in the bell tower floor deck above where we worship.
“The machine was donated by a member of the church who also happened to be there and was trained to use it.
“We are told that if we had not had the machine, the outcome would have been even worse and the gentleman may have died, so we are just grateful that we had it.”
The vicar said the man who collapsed has been a bell-ringer for many years and is well known among the fraternity.
Now Mr MacKenzie says the decision to get the defibrillator three months ago has been justified, as he was among a group of 10 who are trained to use the machine in an emergency.
He said: “We are very thankful for the emergency services’ fast response and expertise to give the gentleman a chance of life.
“I was prepared to use the defibrillator but was grateful that the member of the congregation who donated it was able to provide expert intervention.
“The church is used by a great many people in the community, and at my team meeting this week we discussed getting machines at other churches.
“The machines save lives or give the opportunity for a life to be saved.”
Two ambulances were sent along with police cars and the ambulance service’s Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene on Sunday.
Ambulance service spokesman Rich Airey said: “Ambulance crews attended the scene and the patient, who required resuscitation, was further treated before being taken to William Harvey Hospital in a serious condition.
“We would like to thank all those people at the scene who assisted the patient prior to our arrival.”