Volunteers to rescue with donations of defibrillators

Community: Group steps in to lend two life-saving machines after thefts

A volunteer rescue group has donated two defibrillators to a north-east community after its own machines were stolen by “callous” thieves.

The chairman of the Trossachs Search and Rescue Team, Stuart Ballantyne, travelled from the banks of Loch Lomond to Newtonhill to hand over two spare public access defibrillators (PADs) to the community for the winter months.

Two of the devices, funded by locals, were taken from outside the Newtonhill Pharmacy on Old Mill Road and the walls of the village’s Tesco store between September 26 and October 10.

Other defibrillators were also stolen recently from Oldmeldrum and Udny Green.

When Mr Ballantyne heard the news, he decided to make the journey north to loan villagers the PADs – which the group will not require until Easter.

One of the machines was put in place outside the pharmacy last night.

It comes as the Newtonhill Village Association launched a fresh fundraiser last night to secure £3,500 for new machines of their own, complete with security equipment to deter potential criminals.

The Trossachs SART has secured 100 defibrillators in its local area and has a link to the north-east, having undertaken training at the former Maritime Rescue Institute at Stonehaven.

Mr Ballantyne added: “We decided four years ago to raise money to get PADs around the Trossachs and in the key tourist sites.

“The two we had were not being used over the winter, so we lent the two defibrillators until that community gets the money.

“We have never had any stolen or anything. It is very unusual that this area has had four defibrillators stolen.”

Newtonhill fundraiser Skea Ross, who helped bring the machines to the village, said the kindness of the team meant lives could be saved in the village whilst money is secured for new ones.

He added: “It would be nice if the village could raise the money to get our own ones back up.”

Lib Dem councillor for North Kincardine, Ian Mollison, said: “It is really heart-warming. It just shows there are good people out there. (The thefts) were callous.”

Donations can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Newtonhill-Defibrillators

DONATED: Councillor Ian Mollison with Melanie Torrance of the Newtonhill Village Association at Newtonhill Pharmacy