London Ambulance calls on community leaders to tackle “defib deserts”

London Ambulance Service is calling on community leaders to do more to tackle the capital’s “defib deserts”.

It comes as a father-of-three who survived a cardiac arrest urges Londoners to join him on this year’s London Life Hike to raise vital funds for the life-saving equipment.

Rob Hutt, then 59, collapsed last summer while out for a run near his home. Luckily two other runners were out that day and stopped to save his life.

And Rob’s survival has driven him to help others. He is now fundraising for the London Life Hike – a flagship charity walk through the beating heart of the capital led by the London Ambulance Charity, which takes place on Saturday 27 September from Southwark Park.

London Ambulance Service has named 150 defib deserts across the capital – from Newham and Hackney to Ealing, Redbridge, Haringey and Wandsworth.

It has already raised funds for 100 new defibrillators but the Service now wants to get 100 more which would cost £160,000.

Rob said: “I am incredibly lucky to be alive. It’s a miracle that I’m here.

“We have amazing paramedics, cardiologists and NHS teams. They perform magic but they can’t work their magic unless defibrillators are available for bystanders to use.

“Complete strangers saved my life. I’m taking part in the Life Hike because I want others to stand a chance of surviving a cardiac arrest by having access to a defibrillator nearby.

“They saw what was happening and they were willing to take action. And by joining the Life Hike, you can save a life like mine.”

At the inaugural walk last year, more than 200 Londoners came together to raise almost £25,000 – enough to pay for 15 defibrillators to be used by local communities in London.

When someone suffers a cardiac arrest – a life-threatening emergency when the heart stops beating – the use of a device called a defibrillator sends an electric shock to the heart and gives them the best chance of surviving.

Rob added: “The Life Hike will be quite an emotional day for me. These events are so important – they allow us pay our respect to those who have sadly passed away and walk in their memory. But we can still do our absolute best to give others a really good chance of life.

“The Life Hike is such an amazing event and a really enjoyable day. I’m intending to get as many people involved as possible.”

Jess Burgess, Head of London Ambulance Charity, added:

“I’m calling on Londoners to join us in our shared mission to save lives and make a lasting impact for your local communities.

“We want to come together and get these life-saving devices installed in our local neighbourhoods – whether that’s raising money for the campaign or volunteering to look after these devices.

“There are also fantastic opportunities to sponsor the event, which is a unique way to showcase your commitment to the health of communities across London.

“Every penny raised will go towards installing life-saving defibrillators across the capital and training people in how to save a life.”

At the London Life Hike, participants can choose to walk a 6km or a 21km scenic route through central London, taking in many of the city’s iconic landmarks.

As well as walking there’ll be CPR training, children’s activities and a chance to see some of London Ambulance Service’s historic ambulance collection.

To support the charity’s life-saving work by taking on this new challenge, you can register here.