‘Lucky chance’ couple on scene to use defibrillator

A couple who administered life-saving techniques at the weekend have spoken of the “lucky chance” that they were able to help somebody who needed it.

William Tulloch and his wife Jane had been out walking their dog on Saturday morning at Stonehaven harbour when they were stopped by someone needing help.

The couple both have first aid training and Mr Tulloch said he didn’t hesitate. He explained: “A lady came out of a flat in quite a distressed state and said she needed help with her daughter as she couldn’t wake her up.

“We quickly assessed the situation inside and realised she wasn’t breathing, so my wife started CPR and I dialled 999.

“Then Jane remembered about the defibrillator outside the lifeboat house, so I dashed round there to get it.

“Someone later told me they had thought I was stealing it, because I was running up the road with it so quickly.”

Mr Tulloch added that a split decision to change their usual dog-walking route meant they had both been at the harbour that morning.

He said: “For some reason, we had decided to go in the reverse direction – otherwise we wouldn’t have been there. I had just gone into auto-pilot – time seemed to go very quickly. I think anyone would have done the same thing.”

The 45-year-old female patient was transferred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by the ambulance service at around 10am and it is understood she remains there under intensive care.

FIRST AID: William and Jane Tulloch with the defibrillator outside the lifeboat station in Stonehaven