Timbumburi Public School P&C has purchased a public access defibrillator following the amazing ordeal of local parent Mark Hooper.
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Mr Hooper had a heart attack during a hockey match last month and was revived thanks largely to the aid of a public access defibrillator at the fields.
The school’s principal Jane Kibble said the machine would be a resource for the communities on the southern outskirts of Tamworth, where she said the nearest defib is probably 10km away.
“We’re in an area where there isn’t one nearby,” Ms Kibble said.
“We had over 200 people here for our grandparents’ day recently.
“The school is not only for education, it’s a community hub too.”
The principal said Mr Hooper was the second young parent from Timbumburi to have a heart attack in recent times.
“So if the unthinkable does happen again, there will be something there to help,” Ms Kibble said.
“Our two priorities were making sure his children had the best support and were feeling safe and happy.
“And secondly, if something happened again, we would have a defib and would be able to have another happy ending.”
Ms Kibble said the school community was “shaken up” by the news of Mr Hooper’s ordeal and said buying the the unit was the “best thing the school could do”.
P&C vice-president Ray Aslin said the unit cost about $3000 and urged other Tamworth businesses to consider getting a defibrillator.