Members of Innellan Golf Club have come together to raise funds for a life-saving defibrillator, which will be available for use by both club members and the wider community.
Through charity competitions, as-well as penalties for balls hit out of bounds on the 9th and 18th holes, the club has successfully gathered enough money to purchase the defibrillator.
In addition to the funds raised by members, the club also received a generous grant from the Hydro Benefit scheme, administered by the South Cowal Community Council.
This new defibrillator, which will be located on the golf course, adds to the lifesaving equipment already in place at Innellan Village Hall.
By registering the device on the national database, it will be easily accessible to first responders, who will be able to locate it quickly in the event of an emergency.
Duncan Lauder, former club captain and a member at the forefront of the initiative, said: “Every year we have a charity that we donate to, but this year somebody I knew had a heart attack and it came to mind that maybe we should be thinking about ourselves.
“The local village hall had gotten one and it got my mind running, so I suggested to the club that we should get one ourselves.
“Lots of people walks their dogs and go round the golf course, so it would benefit the whole community.”
To further ensure the community’s safety, the golf club recently hosted a first aid and defibrillator training night in partnership with the charity Heart Start. The event was well attended by club members, who learned essential skills in using the defibrillator and providing basic life support. The club also made a donation to Heart Start to support the charity’s efforts in training more people across the community.
Duncan added that one of the attendees used their knowledge, gained at this session, mere days later when a man fell ill on the same ferry they were on: “Thanks to the refresher just before it, they were able to give the guy first aid and get him to Inverclyde Royal Hospital – where they managed to save him.”
