Northern Ireland

Co Derry man's praise that more defibrillators registered after his life was saved during marathon

New figures show there are 100,000 defibrillators registered in the UK, with almost 3,700 registered in Northern Ireland

John Deery (centre) survived a cardiac arrest at this year’s Belfast Marathon thanks to a life-saving defibrillator and CPR performed by Peter O’Hare (right holding the defib). John and Peter are pictured alongside Head of British Heart Foundation NI’s Fearghal McKinney
John Deery (centre) survived a cardiac arrest at last year’s Belfast Marathon thanks to a life-saving defibrillator and CPR performed by Peter O’Hare (right), pictured with Fearghal McKinney of British Heart Foundation NI
By Suzanne McGonagle

A Co Derry man says it is “positive” news that more defibrillators have been registered on a UK-wide network after his life was saved by one of the devices.

John Deery (64) from Eglinton suffered a cardiac arrest in May last year as he took part in the Belfast Marathon.

An experienced long-distance runner, he was at the halfway point close to Finaghy crossroads when he took ill, but credits the use of a defibrillator for saving his life.

Communities across Northern Ireland are being urged to apply for a free lifesaving defibrillator from the British Heart Foundation
There are almost 3,700 defibrillators registered in Northern Ireland

His comments come as new figures reveal a “momentous” 100,000 defibrillators in the UK are now visible to the emergency services, with almost 3,700 registered in Northern Ireland.

This means that when someone has a cardiac arrest and a bystander calls 999, the ambulance services can direct them to the nearest registered defibrillator.

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However, there are many more that remain unregistered.

Mr Deery has been supporting the British Heart Foundation (BHF) campaign to get as many defibrillators as possible registered on The Circuit since his cardiac arrest.

“I’m very lucky to be alive and the positive is that a lot more defibrillators have since been registered on The Circuit because of what happened to me, and it’s fantastic to hear there are now 100,000 defibrillators registered,” he said.

John Deery, Fearghal McKinney and Peter O’Hare
John Deery, Fearghal McKinney and Peter O’Hare

Michael Allen from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: “In Northern Ireland at present, less than 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Strengthening every link, affords people the best opportunity to do this.

“This is why it is so encouraging to see The Circuit hit the 100,000 mark for defibrillator registrations.

”Increasing access to defibrillators across all communities will help to improve the chances of survival for us all. We hope this will be the catalyst for many more registrations in the future.”

Fearghal McKinney of BHF NI said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has played their part in this, from the guardians who have registered their defibrillator to the partners who have supported this pioneering database.

“But our work isn’t done.

“There are still thousands more defibrillators out there that remain invisible to the emergency services.

“If you have a defibrillator, please take a moment now to register it - this one simple action could help save someone’s life.”