New help for heart attack victims

ISOLATED EAST Neuk communities are to be equipped with defibrillators to give heart attack victims a better chance of survival.

Villagers have secured funding of £4,000 from Operation Heart Start, based in St Andrews, towards the life-saving machines.

Communities including Anstruther, Crail, Pittenweem, Elie and St Monans are currently trying to raise enough money to purchase a total of around 10 defibrillator kits, which cost in the region of £1,200 each.

They can also apply to Fife Council for grants of up to £500 from local budget allocations.

Martin Dibley from the Royal Burgh of Kilrenny, Anstruther and Cellardyke Community Council said: “The East Neuk First Responders was established a couple of years ago because of the challenge of getting ambulances into this area within the target time of eight minutes.

“Everyone is working together to expand on that, because if someone does have a heart attack, then minutes matter.

“We’ve all seen the adverts with Vinnie Jones. They are fantastic and have already saved lives. This will also save lives, as we know after hearing about the footballer who collapsed on the pitch recently.

“It was only because there was a defibrillator at the match that he is alive now.”