Husband’s tragic death inspires Lyn to create legacy that could save a life
‘IF EVERY VILLAGE COULD HAVE A DEFIBRILLATOR IT WOULD MAKE THE WORLD OF A DIFFERENCE’
A DERBYSHIRE grandmother has described how she felt when police turned up on her doorstep and informed her that her husband had died.
Lyn Brocklehurst, 53, an NHS admin worker from Ripley, lost her husband to a cardiac arrest in June this year.
Her husband, John, 56, had been driving along the A38 when he suffered a cardiac arrest behind the wheel.
Lyn has recalled the moment she realised something was wrong.
She said: “My husband was 56, he had had a heart attack six years ago, but as far as we knew everything was fine with him.
“I went to bed Thursday night, I woke up early Friday morning to see him not there at 5.50am. The doorbell went and there were two policemen stood there.
“I can only think that he must have been taking himself to the hospital because he didn’t feel well or something, but with a cardiac arrest you can feel fine and then you’re gone.
“He was in the car going slowly, two young bin men in a lorry went past him and saw him slumped and stopped and tried to give him CPR. Unfortunately, the ambulance and defibrillator came and they couldn’t save him. It was quite sudden and unexpected.”
Lyn explained how John’s death has changed their family. Friends and family members have told her how much they miss his sense of humour, and her grandson has told her how much he misses him, too.
Lyn said: “He was a very jolly character, a lot of people have said they miss his banter.
“I honestly think that he didn’t know how well liked he was, it’s amazed me and touched me how many people have said they miss his banter.
“I’ve got my two daughters and it’s obviously hard for them, and I’ve got my two grandchildren, and another on the way, and they keep me going.
“We talk about him all the time, my grandson who is four misses him a lot, he’s always talking about him.”
Lyn has been organising the fundraising for two defibrillators in her area with support from the Oliver King foundation.
Lyn, after her husband’s first heart attack six years prior, has also undertaken training to learn the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest.
Now, she is determined to spread awareness and help others.
“It gives me comfort knowing
It gives me comfort knowing that we’ve got something in memory of him.
that we’ve got something in memory of him,” she said.
“After he died, people were telling me they wanted to donate money, so I decided to put it towards a defibrillator.
“We managed to raise enough money for two defibrillators and put them in Ripley, in the cricket club and at the local shop.
“The thing is it can happen to young children as well, so I think if every village could have a defibrillator it would make the world of a difference.”
Ripley Town Council also commended Lyn’s fundraising efforts on its social media page.
The council said: “In June of this
year local lady, Lyn Brocklehurst, sadly lost her husband John to a cardiac arrest.
“The collection at his funeral and through additional fundraising, enabled Lynn and her family to raise enough money for them to purchase two defibrillators for our community.
“One will be situated on Heage Road at Critchlows Ripley and the other at Marehay Cricket Club.
“On behalf of our community, we would like to thank Lynn and her family for the amazing gesture which will benefit our local community.
“Knowing that they are there is a reassurance to us all, but inevitably, we hope they never have to be used.”
Lyn Brocklehurst