New defibrillator installed in Little Horkesley following life saving training sessions

The defibrillator was installed after training sessions to teach local residents CPR and how to use a defibrillator. The training was run by EEAST Heart, a community education programme run by staff and volunteers from the East of England Ambulance Service.

The defibrillator is located at the village bus shelter, making it easy for people to access in an emergency.

Local resident Dana Szabo, who helped install the defibrillator the defibrillator with her husband Adrian and David Lewis, said the device will make a real difference to the village.

Dana said: "It’s so reassuring to finally have one installed in the village! Knowing that the defibrillator has the potential to save someone’s life in our community and anyone else who passes through our village is truly wonderful.”

Joanna Petersen, Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer for Little Horkesley Parish Council, praised the efforts of Dana, Adrian and David and the wider community.

She also thanked the Nayland Community First Responders (CFRs) for delivering the basic life support training that led to the defibrillator being installed.

Adam Lunn, Team Leader for Nayland Community First Responders, commented: “We were thrilled to be asked to provide CPR and defibrillator training to the community in Little Horkesley, and to be involved in the subsequent conversations that developed from the sessions around obtaining a public access defibrillator.

As a result of this training and the installation of the defibrillator, local residents are now in a much better position to provide life saving interventions in the event of a cardiac arrest. It’s a great example of how caring this community is and how much they mean to one another.”

Johnny Eddis, Chair of Little Horkesley Parish Council, said: “We are enormously grateful to the National Lottery, Cllr Darius Laws and Cllr Lewis Barber for making this valuable addition possible for our village. We hope it will never be needed, but it is reassuring to know it is there.”

Darius Laws, who supported the funding when he was a Colchester City Councillor and is now a Suffolk County Councillor for the Constable division, added: "I was only too happy to help fund this defibrillator in Little Horkesley.

“Our amazing volunteer first responders and health care professionals are better supported with this in place and I congratulate the Parish Council for leading with this initiative.”