Brave Nairn woman Beth Garrow is campaigning for life saving equipment to be held in Highland police cars
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A 22-YEAR-OLD woman is campaigning for defibrillators to be carried as standard in all police cars after the death of her sister.
Beth Garrow timed the plea to coincide with what would have been her sister Alex’s 20th birthday, and has launched a fundraiser to pay for the potentially life-saving equipment. Within hours, it had passed her £2000 target, with funds still pouring in.
Alex (19) died at her home in Nairn on February 19 after suffering from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).
Her sister said that every penny raised in her memory will be invested towards potentially saving lives in the Highlands.
The tragic death of a father in Cawdor recently prompted a review of where defibrillators are available in Nairnshire.
When Alex, a team leader with Superdrug in Inverness, suffered sudden heart failure the nearest ambulance was 30 minutes away and it was the police who were first on the scene.
Police vehicles, however, do not routinely carry defibrillators and Beth wonders whether the outcome for her sister might have been different if they did.
“As a family, the fact we didn’t have a defibrillator has left a number of questions in our minds about whether having one would have saved my sister’s life,” she said.
“It was a very normal night, Alex had dinner with my mum and dad. Alex didn’t drink and did not do drugs.
“I was speaking to my parents about cars and she was taking the Mickey.
“Shortly after she left the room, we heard a noise.
“I went to see if Alex was OK and, to me, she looked like she was sleeping but my mum said she was up a few moments before, so she couldn’t be.
“After finding Alex unresponsive we called 999 – we were told it would be 30 minutes for the ambulance.
“We worked on Alex while we waited.
“Our neighbours came to help as, although I am first aider, she was my sister and I needed help.
“The police were first on the scene – they were with us after 10 minutes. The officers took over the CPR and they asked for the fire service to attend purely because the crew carry a defibrillator.”
It was another 40 minutes, she said, before the fire crew and paramedics arrived.
“Sadly, despite the best efforts of all involved, Alex passed away later that evening in Raigmore Hospital and our family life will never be the same again,” Beth said.
“Everyone was so kind on the night and everyone did everything they could, we know that, and we are so thankful for all the support we received.
“I hope that by providing defibrillators, lives can be saved and families will not go through such heartache like we are.”
Nairn is served by three police vehicles and Beth’s original aim was to raise enough money to equip at least two of them.
After her fundraising appeal took off, however, it looks like she will have enough to buy three machines – and now has her sights set even further.
“I just want to be able to provide defibrillators to the three police cars in Nairn, and after that we will fund defibrillators for elsewhere,” she said.
Police Chief Inspector Jen Valentine said: “We are aware of this fundraiser and we have been in contact with the family to thank them for their offer.”
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