Sportsman’s legacy could save lives of park users

Members of the public now have 24-hour access to a defibrillator in Roe Lee Park thanks to local groups and a charity set up in memory of a keen sportsman from Blackburn.

Roe Lee Park Bowling Club, the park’s friends group and the local residents and tenants association clubbed together to buy the defibrillator after a bowler died after collapsing in the park.

But it had to be kept in the bowling pavilion – meaning the potentially life-saving device was only available when it was open – because there was no secure, weatherproof cabinet for it.

So Blackburn with Darwen Council approached the Philip Maher Foundation which stepped in to purchase a cabinet so that the defibrillator is accessible at all times. The cabinet has now been installed by the council outside the pavilion.

The foundation was set up in memory of Mr Maher who grew up in Blackburn before moving to Great Harwood. The 61-year-old grandfather died suddenly after suffering a severe heart attack while playing football in Blackburn 2015.

His son Stuart explained:

The family thought it would be a good idea to try to raise some money through donations in lieu of flowers at the funeral to purchase a defibrillator.

More than £3,500 was raised and we had sufficient funds to purchase four defibrillators.

Since then the charity has passed the £20,000 mark and has funded or part-funded the installation of several defibrillators.

Stuart said that his dad had been fit and healthy before his heart attack and added:

The focus of the charity has been on sports-related venues as he was a very sports-orientated person. Obviously this is a charity we did not want to have but something good has come out of a tragic accident.

A defibrillator gives a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest. Anyone within 200 metres of the defibrillator in Roe Lee Park who phones to report that someone is having heart attack will be given a code to access it. This area takes in around 100 houses.

The defibrillator is automated and guides the user through the process.

Bowling club member Sylvia Coar said:

When one of our members collapsed on the green, we couldn’t get aid to him fast enough. We felt if there had been a defibrillator he might have had a better chance.

Local ward councillor Ron Whittle added:

This defibrillator will now benefit the whole community, which is much better, rather than being locked inside the pavilion.