Lincolnshire widower says install defibrillators in every community
Andy Piaskowski, 63, is walking 46 miles to fundraise in memory of his wife Vivien
Last updated 20th May 2022
A man from Aby in Lincolnshire is calling on the government to install defibrillators in every community after his wife died of a sudden heart attack.
Vivien Piaskowski passed away just days after her 60th birthday in January when Mr Piaskowski was unable to reach his nearest defibrillator as he had to continue giving CPR.
Viven was a carer and had three daughters and seven grandchildren. She and Andy were married for almost 42 years.
It took the ten minutes for a paramedic to arrive – a defibrillator ideally needs to be used within the first three.
Critical situation
The aftermath of the event made Mr Piaskowski realise just few and far between defibrillators are, describing it as a “critical situation for the whole of England”.
And even when they exist, he says they need to be placed at more strategic locations – such as junctions between multiple roads – to maximise access.
Mr Piaskoski told Lincs FM: “Really we want the government to take charge, we want the law to be changed so that communities and individuals don’t have to buy defibrillators we want the government to actually pay for defibrillators.
“Especially if new estates are built, in the centre of that estate there should be a defibrillator.”
He says some of the money developers pay as part of planning conditions – traditionally spent on things like children’s parks and policing contributions – should be spent on defibrillators.
Government action
He’s also asking people to contact their local MP to put the issue on the agenda: “I’ve written to Victoria Atkins MP for Louth and Horncastle and her office assures me that she will take action. I’ve asked my daughters to write to their MPs in Reading, Nottingham and Cambridgeshire.
“I’d urge anybody to do the same if they’ve not got a defibrillator or they have to find funding because the more MPs that are involved, the more pressure we put on the government to change things.”
He also wants people to make sure they know where their nearest defibrillator is.
Fundraising
Mr Piaskoski is embarking on the Pathfinder March in June along with his three daughters to raise funds for four new defibrillators for Lincolnshire’s villages.
The equipment will have plaques dedicated to Vivien’s memory.
You can donate to his fundraiser on their JustGiving page.