On Thursday 13th July 2023, Kyle Reid embarked upon the challenge of playing four full rounds of golf at his Elderslie Club, close to Paisley, Renfrewshire (Scotland.)

Why? It seemed like a bit of a crazy thing to do – especially given the vagaries of a Scottish summer’s day.

Well, as a PC in the Scottish Police Force, it was he and his partner Aidan Jenner who were fortunately on hand the evening in late April when I had my Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest. It was their prompt action in administering eight minutes of constant CPR, before zapping me four times with a public access defibrillator that has meant I’m able to write this post today.

Over the next few weeks, Kyle decided he would like to raise enough money to fund another defibrillator, to be installed somewhere around his Paisley ‘beat.’ His golf challenge formed part of that effort.

In total, £3200 was raised – more than enough to donate to the charity Lucky 2B Here for provision of a defibrillator to be installed at Paisley’s PACE Youth Theatre.

Today (Sunday 11th February 2024) was the official ‘handover’ day, with representatives of the charity coming together with PACE members and others for the presentation and a CPR training session.

Any day that raises public awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a good day. But today felt even more special as the installation of the unit at PACE was the 1,000th provided by Lucky 2B Here. That’s some achievement!

Not only does the charity supply the defibrillator itself, but it also provides training in its use for anyone who wishes to learn this life-saving skill.

The charity’s milestone and importance of training given to ten or so wonderful volunteers was recorded and later broadcast by Scottish Television News – which kinda took me by surprise!

Fortunately, they didn’t show the five seconds or so when I got a wee bit emotional and felt my bottom lip go! (Aaw shoot! I could have gotten away with that, couldn’t I?)

I knew Diane, my wife, would feel uncomfortable watching the volunteers practice CPR on the dummies. She witnessed the whole event unfold on the night and it was she who attracted the attention of Kyle and Aidan.

I did wonder how it would be for me. I’ve been quite comfortable talking about what happened, and even wrote a short, lighthearted book about it all -pun not intended.

Yeah – it was tough. Not that I remember anything of the SCA itself – but just the appreciation of what Diane, Kyle, Aidan, and the paramedics actually did on the evening was almost overwhelming.

CPR shouldn’t be feared, though and I’d reiterate what Michelle, Laura and Erin said (and Kyle and Aidan did) and that’s ignore the breaking of ribs. I so admire those lads for continuing at least eight minutes when they could hear and feel my ribs all breaking. Sleeping in a sitting position for a couple of months is a very small price to pay – ask any survivor! 🙂

As those who have read my book will know, many amazing coincidences fell into line to keep me alive on that almost fateful evening. Well the story continues, for here’s another:
Fiona McLeod, who with Dander was representing Lucky 2B Here, actually lives a couple hundred yards away from where I grew up. She was the year above me in school and though we didn’t really know each other, she remains good friends with some of my pals from my school-days.

Like everything that’s surrounded the events of 25th April 2023, I find that amazing!