Top award for Springhead life savers

Awards from the Royal Humane Society have been presented by a Grotton resident who was saved by sports club members who were merely out for an afternoon game of bowls. 

In April 2023 Liberal Democrat Councillor Alicia Marland organised the installation of a defibrillator at the Springhead social club through funding which she had gained from a donation from a club member and the Saddleworth Rotary Club.  “I was delighted to make it possible for this AED to be funded and put in such a prominent place so that users of the club and residents could have access to it 24/7.  But never hoping that it would be used and particularly on a resident that I knew and had worked with”. 

But only 5 months later, Grotton resident Michael Riordan suffered a cardiac arrest whilst playing bowls at the Springhead social club and two players sprung into action to revive him.  Fellow bowlers Eric Power and Jack Gaskell recognised the signs that Mick was seriously unwell, called 999 but also made use of the recently deployed defibrillator.  “It was through their quick thinking and their lack of hesitation at stepping forward to give first aid that Mick was revived and made a full recovery.  An air ambulance was also sent to the scene, landed on the bowling green and Mick was taken to a nearby hospital” confirmed Cllr Alicia Marland.  “He really was very fortunate that this defibrillator was so close by and that the players knew what to do.

This would only have been possible through the generous financial support following a request to many community groups from Councillor Marland to support her defib rollout project across the Borough.  “I have now been involved in getting 10 new defibrillators installed and another is due to be installed at The Spinners Arms in Springhead very soon”. 

Defibrillators, also known as AEDs, allow members of the public to administer vital life-saving treatment and significantly increase the survival chances of anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest.  Only one in ten people survive an out of hospital cardiac episode so it is important that people know where their local AED is and have a basic understanding of how to use it.  The British Heart Foundation offer on line training courses – learning CPR in 15 minutes through their RevivR course.

She added “many congratulations to Eric and Jack for receiving their awards and I wish them all many more happy hours of playing bowls together”.

PHOTOGRAPH: MICHAEL RIORDAN PRESENTING TO ERIC POWER and JACK GASKELL.