Lifesaving defibrillator put out of use after casing vandalised

A lifesaving defibrillator has been damaged by vandals at a popular Broughty Ferry beauty spot.

Vandals broke plastic casing around the defibrillator on the wall of Castle Green Leisure Centre, rendering the device inaccessible in an emergency.

The damage was found on Wednesday morning and Broughty Ferry Rotary Club, which installed the device two years ago, is already working to try to get the door replaced.

Club spokesman Graham Haig, who usually takes a walk down to inspect the defibrillator once a week, condemned the senseless violence. He said: “It is an awful, unnecessary expense for something that could save the vandal’s life, never mind someone else’s.

“Normally people are good and leave the defibrillator alone because they know it is important.

“What the vandals have done is break the front face and in doing so have disconnected the handle so it doesn’t open up any more.

“The defibrillator is still there in the box, but no one can access it now.”

The damage has been reported to the Scottish Ambulance Service and to

Community Heartbeat Trust to try to get the repairs sorted.

Graham continued: “Castle Green is usually a busy place with lots of people around and there is less chance of it happening, but it still did.”

Councillor Craig Duncan, who represents the Ferry on Dundee City Council, discovered the damaged defibrillator and reported it to the Rotary club. He said: “The littering and foul language during the recent weather is one thing, but deliberately damaging lifesaving equipment takes things to another level.”

Damaged defibrillator at Broughty Ferry.