St Austell Brewery and Cape Cornwall Pilot Gig Club have joined forces to co-fund a new defibrillator at the Fisherman’s Arms in Newlyn.
This is the latest in a series of defibrillators which have been installed since St Austell Brewery launched its Heart of the Community campaign last year.
The company identified 56 pubs in its estate which do not currently have access to a lifesaving device. It is raising money, through its Charitable Trust, to install one at each site. The company is match-funding every pound raised.
St Austell Brewery has installed 21 defibrillators in locations across the South West, which have already been used to save two lives at the Rashleigh Arms, Charlestown, and Harbour Inn, Porthleven.
Cape Cornwall Pilot Gig Club played a big part in securing the latest defibrillator, having part-funded the equipment following a cardiac arrest of one of its rowing team in 2022.
Working with the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity (RRMC), which fundraises for defibrillators to be installed in schools and public places all over the Duchy, and to train young people how to use the devices, the club identified the Fisherman’s Arms as the best place to mount the defibrillator
David Sheppard suffered a heart attack at sea while rowing near St Michael’s Mount. Thankfully, his fellow rowers, assisted by retired GP Dr Simon Dean, gave David CPR on the gig at sea before getting him on dry land, when a defibrillator was used by the ambulance service.
Thankfully, David made a full recovery and is back to rowing. He said: “I’ve been rowing since about 2018. It’s such a wonderful experience, I was smitten with it as soon as I started. After my incident, I couldn’t wait to get back on the water.
“We’re so pleased to have funded the defibrillator. People have a much better chance of survival with access to defibrillators. It gives people a higher chance of staying alive until the emergency services arrive.”
Piers Thompson, St Austell Brewery’s external relations director, said: “Our partnership with the RRMC has been going from strength to strength with defibrillator installations ongoing throughout our pub estate. The equipment has already been used to save two lives, showing just how vital it is to have such this resource in places not currently covered.”
