A vandal who destroyed a community defibrillator has been labelled a 'brainless waste of space.'
The defibrillator usually sits on the wall of the Egremont Medical Centre on King Street in Wallasey. It went missing on the evening of Wednesday, October 5 but was later found damaged on the roof of a nearby garage.
Wirral’s council leader Janette Williamson called the person who did it a “brainless waste of space” and said they have “increased the chances someone in that situation might die.”
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Defibrillators can be used if someone has a heart attack or their heart stops beating in an emergency.
Maria Kershaw, chair of The Voice of Egremont Residents & Tenants Association, was behind the purchase of the life-saving device. She said: “To say we are utterly devastated is an understatement.”
She campaigned for a defibrillator to be installed after her brother was saved using one and is worried there now won't be one on hand if she needs to help her husband, who has heart problems.
Mrs Kershaw said: “Usually, at least I know I can walk and grab the defibrillator if I need it. It’s left me quite panicky.
“I was tagged in a Facebook group. They hadn't just taken it off and run off with it. They have opened the pads. They have taken the razor that would be used to shave a man’s chest.
“The sad part is that Central Park had one put in last week and that only lasted 12 hours before it was completely destroyed. It makes me sick.”
Mrs Kershaw said the defibrillator was the only locally that was accessible any time of the day as all others are indoors.
Cllr Williamson said: “If anyone knows who did this they should turn them in to the police over this mindless act of criminal damage. They’d be doing them a favour.
“With a bit of luck they might learn the consequences of their actions and actually become a useful member of society, and not just remain the brainless waste of space that they clearly are now.”
Mrs Kershaw said police are currently looking into the situation and Wirral Council have been asked if they have any CCTV footage that might help with an investigation.
Cllr Williamson and Cllrs Daisy Kenny and James Laing, who represent Liscard and Egremont, have said they are looking to provide funding for a new defibrillator but a replacement is expected to take four to five weeks.
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