Kincraig man who owes his life to a defibrillator welcomes latest heart-starting device to home village
A man who owes his life to a defibrillator has welcomed the gifting of another of the emergency heart devices for his home village.
The life-saving equipment will be permanently based opposite the new housing development beside Alvie Primary School at the north end of Kincraig.
Villager Andrew Scott was behind the gesture which was warmly received by heart-attack survivor Toni Vastano.
Mr Scott kindly donated the cost of the defibrillator after a conversation with Mr Vastano in the Suie bar one evening.
“After hearing Toni’s story I felt that it was a good way to help the village that I have called home ever since arriving here last year,” said Mr Scott.
“It’s the fourth defibrillator in Kincraig and they are now covering the whole of the village,” a delighted Mr Vastano said.
“And as Strathy readers will probably remember, I for one know the importance of these amazing machines.”
Mr Vastano, who runs the Old Post Office Cafe and Gallery at the foot of The Brae, explained: “I wouldn’t be here now if the Port Ellon community on Islay hadn’t installed a defibrillator in their village.”
Indeed, many Strathy readers will recall only too well how he was rescued after a heart attack while attempting the impossible - a holiday.
“Looking ahead, we would now love to run some classes on operating and getting really au fait with defibrillators within the community,” he said.
“Hopefully, to make sure there are people around who actually know how to use these machines and just what to do in emergencies as mine was, we aim early next year to set up the sessions in the community hall.
“Strathy readers should keep their eyes open for up-dates on that.
“It would be wonderful to have first responders on every street in the community.”
This from the man who, having survived a heart attack thanks to somebody who knew exactly what to do with a defibrillator, recovered sufficiently to mount his bike and cycle untold miles to raise cash for more of the neat little life-savers.
Anyone in the community who wants to make their own vital donation, or glean more information on the campaign - Lucky2BHere - can do just that by visiting https://www.lucky2bhere.org/fundraising/
