Upset as vandals hurl life-saving kit into Coventry canal

It now means that the defibrillator is now out of service



Vandals have trashed a life-saving piece of kit - by throwing it into a stretch of river in Warwickshire. It was found floating in the Coventry canal at Atherstone top lock.

Local Canal and River Trust volunteers had fund-raised to pay for the vital piece of equipment so that it could be used in case of an emergency in the area. But to their dismay, they found vandals had struck.

They broke into the special cabinet it was held in and then hurled the defibrillator into the canal.

"We installed the defibrillator in March of this year after 12 months of fund raising and some kind donations from boaters and members of the public," said a spokesperson for the local volunteers."

"The cabinet was opened Thursday night some time between 4pm and midnight," the spokesperson added.

As a result, the defibrillator is no longer available in an emergency with the ambulance service. Now the volunteers face the task of raising at least £1,400 to replace it.

Anyone who would like to help can visit the page online here

Volunteers are appealing to the community to help them raise enough money to help buy a new one. They have set-up JustGiving page and an appeal has been made for people to make donations.