Dyserth defibrillator set up in memory of hill walker saves life

The defibrillator, at Anglia House in Dyserth, was discovered as missing from the premises roughly four weeks ago by site owner Mike Walsh.

The boxes are locked for security reasons, with the only way of accessing the defibrillator via ringing 999 and receiving a code.

It was one of several defibrillators installed in the region following the passing of Duncan Macauley, fell ill during a walk and collapsed on April 5, 2020.

Mike said: “I couldn’t believe it; it’s absolutely incredible. It just shows what it (a defibrillator) can do.

“I fitted the defibrillator outside my gates and outside Anglia Apartments in Dyserth. Initially, I was going to fit them inside, because I wasn’t sure about the safety and security, and I went down about four weeks ago and it had gone.

“If you go to one of the defibrillator boxes, it’s obviously locked for security, so you just ring 999 and they give you the code if you give them number for the box. It saved someone’s life, which is fantastic.

“It wouldn’t do anyone any harm to familiarise themselves with where they are.”

Since Duncan’s passing, defibrillators have been set up at the following locations:

• Anglia House, Dyserth

• Bryntirion Farm, Rhuallt

• Ysgol Emmanuel, Rhyl

• Ogwen Valley Visitor Centre

• Rhyl High School

• Ysgol Bryn Heddyd, Rhyl

Duncan’s defibrillator at Bryntirion Farm, Rhuallt. Photo: Mike Walsh

Plans are also in place to install one at the places below:

• Aunty Mandy’s Chippy, Rhyl

• Rhyl Town Hall

• Colwyn Bay Junior Football Club

• Christ the Word Catholic School, Rhyl

Contractor Paul Fairhurst has spearheaded this project, having already raised roughly £14,000 as part of a group which, between them, tackled the Welsh 3000s challenge, all 15 peaks and sevenh paths of the Snowdonia mountain range, and Cadair Idris last summer.

Paul, a close of friend of Duncan’s, is also organising a “second phase” for the summer, which will involve another impressive fundraiser walk.

He said: “Mike discovered his defibrillator was missing and asked me if the North Wales ambulance service had been there and retrieved it for some reason.

“I told Julie Starling (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board arrhythmia specialist and director of the ‘Keep the Beats’ charity) the defibrillator’s missing and asked is there was a chance it could have been used.

“The defibrillator had been used, and was successful.

“The fact that Duncan lost his life, but now is saving lives; there’s something lovely in that. It’s bittersweet.

“We’re going to be coming together in July or August to do the second phase. We’re going to be doing the five peaks - combining the Welsh three peaks (Snowdon, Cadair Idris, Pen y Fan) in with the national three peaks (Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis), broken up into teams.

“Also, we’re going to attack all seven paths of Snowdon again.

“In the first phase of fundraising for this scheme in Duncan’s memory, we’re looking to have 10 to 12 defibrillators (installed). We’d like to double that and more when we go to the second phase this summer.”