Lucky2BHere defibrillator charity scores boost from Castle Leod shinty funding drive
THE family of a Ross-shire man whose life was saved thanks to quick access to a charity-provided defibrillator are aiming to pay forward the gratitude they now feel.
And after a remarkable response from the public, they have already smashed their target.
Steven Maclachlan suffered from a cardiac arrest while refereeing a shinty match between Caberfeidh and Kinlochshiel on Saturday, March 30.
Mr Maclachlan, who lives in the Muir of Ord area but is originally from Ballachullish, took unwell about 13 minutes into the game which had started in front of a 200-plus crowd at 3pm.
His life was saved by the quick-thinking actions of Kinlochshiel captain Conor Cormack, who is a local firefighter and familiar with defibrillators, and his teammate Keith MacRae, who helped administer CPR.
Defibrillators are devices that apply an electric charge or current to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat.
If the heart rhythm stops due to cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a defibrillator may help it start beating again.
A medical team arrived at the Castle Leod pitch shortly afterwards and Mr Maclachlan was taken to Raigmore Hospital, which he has since left.
His family set out to raise £500 for the Lucky2BHere charity which provided the defibrillator at the shinty club’s Strathpeffer base.
His family posted: “As most people are aware my dad, Steven Maclachlan, suffered from a cardiac arrest…while reffing a game of shinty at Castle Leod.
“I would like to express a massive thank you to both Caberfeidh Shinty Club and Kinlochshiel Shinty Club for everything they did that day to save my dad’s life. A special thank you to Conor and Keith who acted fast and preformed CPR and used the defibrillator and everyone else who formed a shield round my dad to give him the privacy to get work done.”
A post flagging a Justgiving page adds: “Without the amazing defibrillator provided by Lucky2BHere based at Castle Leod things would have been very different story.
“Without the use of the defibrillator within the first four minutes of a cardiac arrest it is the difference between life and death. I can’t express the importance of having this equipment accessible in local areas especially areas that are more rural.
“As a family we would like to give back to this amazing charity by raising funds to allow more defibrillators to be accessible. This will ensure the safety of everyone in the wider public.
“We will also be training with Pam at Lucky2BHere to be shown how to provide training on how to use the defibrillators, which is just as important as the equipment.
“If you can help us make this happen by donating or sharing this post we will be so grateful.”
The appeal has already pulled in pledges of £3390.
