Following the widely reported footage of their defibrillator being vandalised, the club are fundraising for a new device
In the wake of the vital equipment being used to save the life of Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen during a Euro 2020 match, the equipment at Buxted FC was vandalised shortly afterwards. The CCTV footage was covered nationally and a 17 year old boy is currently on bail for causing criminal damage.
A temporary replacement has been provided by South East Coast Ambulance Service, with the club raising a fundraising campaign to purchase a new defibrillator and to raise awareness around the usage of the equipment.
Nus Ghani, MP for Wealden visited the club to support the campaign. They’ve received many offers for donation, but repairs are still required to the wall box. Their aim is to turn this incident into a positive and run public training sessions.
A charity match is planned for August, with anyone welcome to take part.
Nusrat Ghani said, “This mindless act of vandalism is sickening. I’m pleased that due to the tremendous response and support from the public, Sussex Police were able to identify the culprit promptly. Buxted FC are a great local Club and I’m pleased that they’re turning this awful experience into a fantastic opportunity to educate the public on the importance of this life-saving equipment. In rural communities like ours where professional help may be a while away, it is absolutely vital that we know how to use a defibrillator in time of need. If you can, please support Buxted FC in reaching their fundraising goal.”
The original article is available here.
