A Cleadon man has spoken of his gratitude towards a North East charity, who helped saved his life by providing 'vital' defibrillators when he suffered a heart attack last year.
Craig Hanson, who works for insurance firm AON, suffered cardiac arrest on 8 December last year - just a week before he turned 58.
But thanks to the installation of life-saving emergency equipment provided by the Red Sky Foundation, he was able to be resuscitated, before receiving medical treatment.
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Craig was playing football with friends when he started having chest pains and began to feel unwell, so he decided to go home to rest up.
When he finally returned to his house, he still felt very under the weather - reporting feelings of sickness while still having a tight chest. As he was about to leave for the hospital to seek medical attention, he unfortunately collapsed.
His neighbours came round immediately and began administering CPR while another local resident headed off seeking the defibrillator, which was provided and fitted due to the work of the foundation.
The neighbours then used the defibrillator on Craig with telephone guidance from the emergency services - managing to restart his heart.
Speaking to Chronicle Live about the horrifying experience, Craig said: "If it wasn't for the Red Sky Foundation's defibrillator, I probably wouldn't be here.
"I found it quite alarming afterwards when I done a little bit of research on how few defibrillators there are, and I'm now really conscious walking around to see where they are.
"I think that the work that the Red Sky Foundation does is absolutely fantastic and the more defibrillators we have available, the better news it is for people like me.
"There's been a lot in the press about things that have happened in local football stadiums and it just highlights the issue."
He continued: "The work undertaken by this charity is exceptional, and I'm living proof that they actually save lives. It is important to continue to raise awareness and promote heart health, and I encourage anyone interested in supporting a charity to link up with Red Sky Foundation to help spread the message in our communities."
The foundation was setup by Sergio and Emma Petrucci following the pioneering life-saving treatment that their daughter Luna received after she was born with a serious heart problem.
Recognising the importance of ensuring that there is easy access to life-saving defibrillators, the foundation raises money and installs devices throughout the region.
And Sergio told Chronicle Live of how his hard work across the North East had been received, after receiving beautiful praise and feedback from local residents within affected communities.
Sergio said: "Since we launched, I think the response has been fantastic. The children in schools loves us and their parents love what we're doing as well.
"Most importantly, the people whose lives we're saving - that's priceless.
"We encourage people to do lots of different things whether it's running, swimming, or even joining our fundraising parties that we have as well as events - every bit helps.
"If we can just pull together in the same direction, I'm sure that more lives can be saved from heart related diseases."
Organisers at Events of the North have announced that the charity is the new official partner for the Sunderland City Runs, which will take place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 May 2022.
The charity which campaigns and raises money to install community defibrillators around the North East, will field scores of runners at the event itself too.
Organisers expect that around 5,000 people will take part in the 2022 Sunderland City Runs, with thousands more spectators lining the streets to cheer on participants. The event on the 7 May will both begin and end at the Northern Spire Bridge with a 5K route between being optimised for flatter ground allowing faster performance than in recent years.
The following day will see the Active Sunderland 3K and the return of the ever popular Sunderland City 10K and Sunderland City Half Marathon - both of which will begin and finish in the heart of the city centre, between the historic Keel Square and newly built City Hall.
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Cllr Graeme Miller, expressed his delight at the return of the events - as well as the news of the Red Sky Foundation partnering all of the runs set to take place.
Cllr Miller, said: "The Sunderland City Runs mark the start of a really exciting summer of major sporting events in our city, which we're hoping will inspire more people to get active and enjoy all the fantastic physical and mental health benefits that this brings with it.
"We know from our recent Let's Talk events consultation that our residents are really keen on events that they can take part in as well as attend with friends and family.
"The Active Sunderland 3K on the Sunday morning and Sunderland City Runs both Saturday evening and Sunday are the perfect opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to have a brilliant coupe of days out, by getting involved in really enjoyable and worthwhile events, or coming along to cheer the runners on.
"It's also a fantastic opportunity to showcase our fabulous city to a wider audience."
He added: "I'm also thrilled to see the Red Sky Foundation being named as the event's charity partner. Their work to bring life-saving defibrillators in city centre locations has been truly inspirational, and while I very much hope the one at City Hall goes unused, it will be hugely reassuring to the thousands of people working in and visiting the area around City Hall, that it is there should it ever be needed."
Entries are now open for all of the events, here.
