Bernard Gallacher launches defibrillator campaign

Bernard Gallacher launches defibrillator campaign

After suffering a cardiac arrest himself on August 28th, Bernard was joined by a plethora of friends and colleagues from the world of sport at Wentworth Club to activate the Bernard Gallacher Defibrillator Camapign 2014.

It was only thanks to the availability of an automated external defibrillator (AED) following Bernard's collapse at a dinner reception in Aberdeen, along with early-response CPR treatment, that he was able to regain consciousness.

Due to this close encounter with death Bernard and his wife Lesley saw it fit to start leading the campaign for all golf clubs and driving ranges across the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to have AED's readily available.

With Bernard's high-profile position and a fundraising campaign being run concurrently with the PGA and Arrhythmia Alliance - the Heart Rhythm Charity - an estimated 2600 golfing venues and approximately 4,000,000 club golfers could benefit from the campaign.

When speaking at the Campaign launch, Bernard said: "I consider myself incredibly fortunate that a defibrillator was on hand in Aberdeen to resuscitate me following my sudden cardiac arrest. But for that AED and the quick-thinking, expertise and life-saving skills of the medical personnel in the room that night, I wouldn't be here today.

"Without early intervention, an individual has just a 5% chance of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest, so Lesley and I felt it appropriate to try to ensure others are equally fortunate should they collapse in or around a golfing venue in future."

Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder and CEO of Arrhythmia Alliance, said: "Bernard's experience has shown the life-saving difference of early CPR and use of a defibrillator. We are delighted to join him and the PGA in this campaign for every golf club in the UK and Ireland to have their own device."

Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of the PGA, added: "The PGA is delighted to join with Bernard in this campaign to install defibrillators in every golf club in Great Britain and Ireland. It has been a long-standing ambition of my own and the PGA that this should happen.

"All of us at the European Tour are fully supportive of Bernard and Lesley's campaign to get AEDs into every golfing facility in the UK and Ireland and we will provide all possible assistance to ensure the Bernard Gallacher Defibrillator Campaign achieves its ultimate goal," added European Tour Chief Executive George O'Grady.