Lions present lifesaving defibrillator in Kilclief

Lions present lifesaving defibrillator in Kilclief

21 December 2016

DOWNPATRICK Lions Club has donated a new lifesaving defibrillator for use in Kilclief.

The device will be located in a special holder mounted on the wall of a house close to Ballycotton beach, off the Bishopscourt Road.

Last October, community pharmacist Shane O’Hare braved the cold waters of Strangford Lough to raise money to help provide new lifesaving defibrillators in the village and nearby Kilclief.

The 40 year-old’s ambitious fundraising initiative to swim from Portaferry to Strangford raised £4,500. One of the defibrillators is already in place outside Strangford pharmacy and the pharmacist raised enough money to purchase an external wall mounted cabinet to house a defibrillator in Kilclief.

Shane’s efforts were supported by local people and Downpatrick Lions Club which donated the defibrillator that is now located in Ballycotton. Last week, Lions Club president, Pat Sheridan, handed over the lifesaving device to Mr O’Hare.

There are now a number of defibrillators located across the district, with Downpatrick Lions Club delighted to play its part in ensuring people in a number of areas now have access to the lifesaving devices.

In an emergency, people dial 999 and will be given the access code to remove the device from its special holder. Pressing a button will activate an automated system which will then explain what to do. Once the 999 call is made, an ambulance will also be despatched.

Maurice Denvir, chairman of Kilclief Residents’ Association, said people are delighted the new lifesaving device has now been installed. He also thanked Mr O’Hare and Downpatrick Lions Club for their help and support and everyone involved in the fundraising initiative.