Lifesaving equipment destroyed by vandals in Eastbourne

Barry King, Richard Bradford and Alec Stephens next to the difibrillator that was vandalised at Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-200602-110301008

Lifesaving equipment in Eastbourne has been destroyed by vandals.

Eastbourne Heart Beat Campaigners were dismayed when they discovered a defibrillator in Sovereign Harbour had been thrown into a water feature just before Christmas.

The equipment, used to restart someone’s heart if they suffer cardiac arrest, costs around £1,000 – and the volunteers are hoping the public can help them replace it.

Alec Stephens, of Heart Beat and Eastbourne Lions, said, “It’s £1,000-worth of kit just gone in a flash. It’s very sad.

Difibrillator is vandalised at Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne (Photo by Jon Rigby) SUS-200602-110313008

“This is lifesaving kit that’s put there for people’s benefit. It’s not a toy.”

But he said. “We are very lucky we have been going on for four years and none of them have been touched except this one.”

Eastbourne Heart Beat Campaign has been raising awareness of the importance of defibrillators since 2016.