Residents of a housing estate in Cookstown have come together to see a life-saving defibrilliator installed after the death of a local resident following a cardiac arrest.
Fundraising efforts from the Coolnafranky Park Residents' Group secured the life-saving equipment, which was installed by Housing Executive staff this week.
A number of residents in the area have now been trained in how to use the defibrillator, which the group says could save someone's life.
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Following the death of a local resident after a cardiac arrest, Coolnafranky Park Residents’ Group fundraised £3,500 to buy the defibrillator.
Group secretary, Eamon Corey, said: “We wanted to ensure going forward that any resident or member of the community nearby would have the best chance possible to survive such a medical emergency.
“Eleven residents are now fully trained on how to use the defibrillator, which could one day save someone’s life.
“We are one of the few housing estates to have a defibrillator and we would encourage residents’ associations across Northern Ireland to install their own device.
“We hope we will never have to use it, but if we do, it will give that person a better chance of survival.
“Thanks to the Housing Executive for helping secure a place for this important piece of equipment.”
Shane Conlon, Grounds Maintenance Supervisor at the Housing Executive, said: “We were approached by the local community group and we were only too happy to provide a site to house the new defibrillator.
“We were only too happy to help in an instance like this and there are further plans to make the site a community focal point, with flower beds and new seating now in the pipeline.”
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