A life-saving piece of equipment has been returned to a Northumberland park after a concerned local councillor contacted ChronicleLive about it.
The defibrillator was located in Riverside Park, Prudhoe, and had not been seen for more than three months when Chris Barrett contacted us. The Prudhoe town councillor told us he suspected it wasn't a thief who took it as the cabinet that contained it hadn't been broken, but someone who might have used it for a legitimate purpose and forgotten to return it.
A defibrillator is a device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest and is an essential part in trying to save their life.
Read more: Life-saving defibrillator stolen from Blakelaw building in shocking theft
Just days after our story appeared, the equipment was returned. Chris explained: "Members of the Tyne Riverside Country Park team arrived for work at 8am on Wednesday to find the defib had been placed on the floor underneath the cabinet.
"It was missing its pads which may have been used in a genuine emergency. Prudhoe Town Council kindly supplied a spare set of pads to get the defibrillator back in service immediately.
"The defib is currently being stored in the Riverside Cafe until we can verify the integrity and security of the external cabinet.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chronicle for aiding us in our successful appeal to have the defibrillator returned. This invaluable piece of life saving equipment is now back where it belongs and ready to be used if required."
Chris told us the chances of the defibrillator being needed in Riverside Park were quite high as it is used for a number of energetic and challenging activities.
It is on the arduous Coast2Coast cycle route, is home to Prudhoe Plodders running club as well as the local canoe club and hosts the Prudhoe Riverside parkrun.
Do you have a defibrillator near where you live? Let us know in the comments below
