Defibrillator gift to Seaboard villages is tragic teen's lasting legacy
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THE legacy of a mountain-biking mad teenager who was tragically killed after being involved in a collision with a car lives on in the Seaboard villages of Ross-shire thanks to a heartfelt gift.
A new defibrillator has been donated to the Balintore and Hilton Community Council by the charity Keiran’s Legacy.
It will replace the unit at the Right Medicine Pharmacy in Balintore’s Hugh Street.
Keiran McKandie was only 16 when he was involved in the collision back in 2016. The nearest ambulance was 38 miles away in Inverness and the police who first attended had no specialised equipment.
The charity, spearheaded by Keiran’s mum, Sandra, is raising awareness in Scotland – where 3500 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year. Defibrillators used quickly can be the difference between life and death in such situations.
Balintore and Hilton Community Council chairwoman, Jennifer McCann, said: “We are extremely grateful to Keiran’s Legacy for providing us with a state-of-the-art defibrillator and alarmed cabinet. We will do everything we can to support their important work in the future. I know I speak for everyone in the Seaboard villages when I send my heartfelt thanks to the founders of Keiran’s Legacy for their kind donation.”
Sandra McKandie said: “Our aim, to continue to ensure lives are saved in Keiran’s name, is paramount, and the ability to ensure that another community has a defibrillator available in the event of an emergency is crucial to ensure lives are saved.
“In the event of an out of hospital cardiac arrest, every minute is vital.”
For more, see www.keiranslegacy.co.uk/donate
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