LIFE-SAVING equipment has been installed in a school where a pupil’s dad passed away suddenly from a hidden heart condition.
Martin Evans from Hilltop was just 42 when he died earlier this year from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, despite being fit and healthy and taking part in charity bike rides annually.
Now Millfields First School, where his eight-year-old son Charlie is a pupil, has received a defibrillator donated by Rob and Maggie Underwood from Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation after Martin’s wife Lucy got in touch.
She told The Standard: “I wanted to safeguard Charlie and also believe they should be everywhere publicly.
“Nobody knows what could happen and when.
“I am a midwife so I regularly get training in CPR but I couldn’t save Martin, when I spoke to the doctor they said unless you have got a defibrillator there and then they don’t stand a chance so I am really passionate about getting them everywhere.
“I am very grateful to Rob and Maggie for supplying the defibrillator so quickly and to the school for accepting it.”
Rob said: “After hearing such devastating news, we were more than happy to help.
“How could we not as this is the main reason for fund-raising to be able to safeguard children at school.
“We hope the school never has to use it but staff are now familiarised with how to use the defibrillator.”
A spokesman from the school said they felt ‘privileged’ to be able to support the scheme which could save people’s lives and wanted to thank the Underwoods and Lucy for working together to enable it to happen.
