FORDINGBRIDGE residents have shown their community spirit by rallying together to raise funds after a life-saving defibrillator was reported missing.

Within 18 hours of a Crowdfunding page being set up enough money had been raised to pay for a new one.

Fordingbridge Fire Station manager and town councillor Pete White, who set up the online fundraising page, said: “To be honest the response was amazing, it just showed the community that is in the town - everyone rallied together.”

“It has just been a really heart-warming experience. I just expected to get a couple of £100,” added Pete. “The support from individuals and businesses has been phenomenal.”

The defibrillator, which was situated outside of Fordingbridge Sports Club at the Recreation Ground, was reported missing last week.

It has since been found and after checks is now back in action.

The scheme co-ordinator for Fordingbridge Community First Responders Andrew Carr says he has been “overwhelmed” by the response which has seen about £3,400 raised - enough to buy two defibrillators which will mean there will be more coverage in the town.

First responders are volunteers who are trained and deployed by South Central Ambulance to deliver life-saving treatment until the ambulance arrives.

He said: “I would like to thank everyone who shared news of the missing defibrillator and of course to those who donated money to the campaign.

“For a rural community such as ours, ensuring that publicly accessible defibrillators are available throughout our local community is essential if we are to give people suffering a cardiac arrest the very best chance of survival.”

Andrew says orders have been placed for new equipment. The plan is to install them at Fordingbridge Fire Station and near Elliots builder’s merchants.

Jack Ansell, the operations manager for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, said: “When someone is in cardiac arrest, their only chances of survival are by having CPR and a shock applied from a defibrillator. For every minute that passes with these actions not happening, the patient’s chances of survival reduce by 10 per cent. In a short period of time, without access to a defibrillator, a person’s chances of survival soon slip away.”

  • The missing defibrillator, which is now back in action, was used on Wednesday to help a member of the public.