Swans extend defibrillator pledge
Swansea City will be building on its defibrillator pledge for the new campaign in memory of the late Mitchell Joseph.
Mitchell sadly passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest playing for his local Swansea Senior League side St Joseph’s last season.
There was no defibrillator, which delivers an electric current to the heart, available at the playing field and Mitchell sadly died in hospital.
After Mitchell’s friends and family raised £10,595 for his partner with a bucket collection before a Swans home game, the club came up with the defibrillator initiative in conjunction with Cariad and Mitchell’s friends and family.
The club matched the funds raised and initially purchased 15 defibrillators before pledging to add an additional unit for every goal the team scored until the end of the season.
As a result, a total of 38 defibrillators have been purchased and placed in Swansea and the local area, with Mitchell’s friends and family at the centre of the selection process. A plaque in Mitchell’s memory has also been placed with every defibrillator.
Now the club has pledged to continue the programme with the purchase of one defibrillator for every victory Graham Potter’s side secure during the 2018-19 campaign.
Swansea’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United last weekend means another life-saving unit has already been secured to take the total to 39.
The club will also continue working with defibrillator charity Cariad to place the units around Swansea and the surrounding areas, plus provide training with special awareness nights to be held throughout the community.
To date, defibrillators have been placed in the following locations: Mynydd Newydd Playing Fields, Ashlands/Banfields, Gors Playing Fields, Paradise Park, Meadow View Sports Complex, Cwmbwrla Park, South Gower (Scurlage), Penygaer Playing Fields, Pontardawe Football Club, Pontlliw, Briton Ferry Llansawel FC, Bonymaen Rugby Club, Murton Playing Fields, Tir Canol Playing Fields, Ashley Road (King George), Hengwrt Sports Centre (x2), Liberty Stadium, Parc Newydd Playing Fields, Swansea City AFC ladies team, Trefelin Boys & Girls Club, Skewen Park, Treboth FC, Pryderi Park, Glynneath Town FC, Llanmorlais Playing Fields, Swansea City Academy, Bonymaen Park, Ystradgynlais FC, Coed Gwilym Park.
Defibrillators are also being positioned at Maesteg Park, Seven Sisters AFC, Onllwyn FC, Drefach Football Club and Seaside AFC.
Additional venues are being confirmed on an ongoing basis. To request a defibrillator for your sports club or venue, please visit Cariad at https://www.mycariad.org/restart-a-heart.
If a defibrillator is required in a medical emergency, it is vital that the rescuer contacts the emergency services immediately. Call 999 and give your location. This will allow the operator to direct you to the nearest available defibrillator and to assist in the rescue.
To find out where your nearest defibrillator is, please search HERE.
