The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Generous donors have raised almost £13,000 to buy defibrillators after a young footballer died during a match at Crowland last month.
Mike Palmer, of Holbeach, wants clubs or match officials from across the area to contact him so as many of the life-saving devices as possible can be supplied.
His son Michael (23) died while playing on February 25 and had previously been fit and healthy.
There is a defibrillator at Crowland, but it is stored some distance from where the match was being played.
His dad said that a pitch-side defibrillator might have made a difference, as it could have been used within a couple of minutes.
“I don’t know if it would have changed the outcome, but if every referee had one, there would be no time lost in finding the nearest and then getting a code for it before it can be used,” he said.
Crowland was the first football club in the area to benefit from a donated defibrillator, and will have it at every game.
“I have been overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity but under-whelmed by the number of clubs coming forward for a free defibrillator,” said Mike.
He launched the MP99 Remember the Name appeal and has now joined forces with London Hearts, a national charity providing the equipment and training.
“If a heart defibrillator is used within three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest, the chances of survival increases from six per cent to 74 per cent,” says the charity.
Mike is also be launching a major initiative to offer sport clubs a free defibrillator and a £7 a month scheme for all maintenance and batteries to ensure they work correctly and the clubs are not hit with a big maintenance bill.
“People don’t realise that after three years the pads need replacing and after five years a new battery is needed. The pads are more than £50 a set and the batteries are around £300.
“We are not making a profit from this, but at £7 a month we can put £1 from each subscription back into the charity to buy more equipment,” said Mike.
“We want referees or umpires from across different sports to get in touch – we can help them.
“There should be a defibrillator at every pitch or court side. And the signage needs to be much better, so everyone knows immediately where the nearest defibrillator is and no time is wasted.”
Michael, one of four siblings, was cremated privately last Friday and his dad is hoping to hold a memorial event for friends and colleagues later in the year.
“I am broken. And my family will never be the same again. Michael’s passing has changed us for ever,” said Mike.
The results of a post-mortem did not establish a cause of death for Michael, a keen footballer.
His family hope the appeal will see a lasting legacy.
Football clubs and match officials can contact Mike by email at enquiries@mp99.org.uk
