Life saving defibrillator installed in Tiverton tourist hotspot

A lifesaving new defibrillator has been installed in the Grand Western Canal car park on Canal Hill in Tiverton.
The public access defibrillator, located on the wall of the public toilets, is available to provide emergency support for visitors to the Country Park and for people in Tiverton.
It can be used by any member of the public in an emergency where someone is having a cardiac arrest – where a person’s heart stops beating and they are unresponsive and not breathing.
The defibrillator and cabinet have been provided by Jay’s Aim - a charity established with the target of reducing the rate of sudden cardiac death among young people in our region.
The equipment has been funded by Everys Solicitors, and Devon County Councillor Colin Slade allocated part of his locality budget to pay for the installation of the cabinet and its connection to mains power.
The Canal Ranger Service will look after and maintain the equipment, carrying out the necessary checks and replacing pads and batteries when necessary.
Dan Osborne, trustee, Jay’s Aim, said: “We were delighted to be able to help provide a public access defibrillator (PAD) in the Grand Western Canal car park in Tiverton, following a real team effort by a number of people and organisations. The PAD was generously fully funded by the team at Everys Solicitors following a pledge made at this year’s ' Exeter Property Ball'. Its location was suggested by Tiverton Town Councillor, Jason Lejeune, who helps looks after many of the PADs in the Tiverton area, and its installation was funded by DCC Councillor Colin Slade using part of his locality budget. As always, we hope that this defibrillator is never needed, but it's great to know that this area of Tiverton is now that little bit safer should an emergency situation needing a defibrillator ever happen. We hope to provide free training for the local community in the coming months.”
Kathy Trist, partner and head of property litigation at Everys Solicitors, said: "At Everys Solicitors, we are delighted to have been able to support the community by funding a Public Access Defibrillator in Tiverton. It's a small but important contribution to enhancing public safety, and we hope it will make a real difference in times of need. Our commitment to the local area goes beyond legal services, and we are proud to be part of such an essential initiative."
Councillor Colin Slade, Devon County Councillor for Tiverton East and Chairman of the Canal’s Joint Advisory Committee, said: “Defibrillators have become an essential part of modern-day life - essential to help save lives. So I am thrilled that Jay’s Aim and Everys have come together to provide one for the Grand Western Canal Basin. Of course, I am delighted that I was able to contribute by using funds from my locality budget for the installation of this much needed unit.”