THE recently damaged defibrillator casing, outside Cox’s Butchers on Crediton High Street, has been replaced thanks to donations via Crowdfunding.

Local electrician Jo Ward fitted the casing, connected the wiring and replaced the defibrillator, which had removed for safe keeping.

According to the Ambulance Service more than 3,600 people are resuscitated by ambulance staff every year in the South West because they suffer a pre-hospital cardiac arrest.

For every minute that passes once in cardiac arrest, a person loses a further 10 per cent chance of survival, and with this, dramatic loss in chance of survival.

Funding is still needed for replacement pads, batteries and the upkeep of other defibrillators in the town.

Paul Fallon, of Crediton Boniface Rotary club, said: “ We would like to give special thanks to Eszter Pallos for setting up the crowdfunding and to the two electricians who volunteered to help.”

Posters have been distributed in many of the businesses on Crediton High Street so that anyone wishing to donate can do so using the QR code or via the link:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Vandalized-Crediton-Defibrillator?utm_term=DxnxVB285.

Anyone with information about any damage to defibrillators in the town is asked to contact police via: [email protected] or by calling 101.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or by reporting online at: www.crimestoppers-uk.org .