Defib vandalisms have cost NI Communities £17,500 in past year

In some cases, devices have simply been ripped from the wall of shops and found kicked down a nearby road.

The PSNI has said that at least 24 defibrillators were either damaged, stolen or tampered with in 2016.

Bronagh Luke, from the Henderson Group, has overseen the 'Heart of our Community' campaign which aims to have a public-access defibrillator at every Spar, EuroSpar or Vivo site in Northern Ireland.

There were 12 incidents of theft and damage at the 180 locations where the company has already installed the life-saving equipment.

"It's absolutely heartbreaking, it really is," she said.

"Our retailers worked really hard at store level to create the fun days, the dress-up days, the bake sales to drive the public to come in and part with their moeny and donate.

"The public really got behind the campaign too, but just because they're at our stores doesn't mean they can't be used outside of that, they're public access."

However, despite the obvious frustration these crimes cost, Ms Luke said that the devices had already proven to be worth the time and effort, with someone's life being saved in Ballycastle a tangible measure of their value.

"There was somebody who had collapsed late at night," she said.

"The person in the store was able to phone 999, get the defib pads applied to their chests and were talked through giving that person the shock required to start their heart.

"The person then went on to survive. It's an extremely proud moment when we know that person may not have survived without it and it's very rewarding."

The Henderson Group is now aiming to get a defibrillator at all 300 of their locations here, up from the 180 they already have.