Grieving mum's pain and hope after 29-year-old daughter's 'sudden' death
14.02.2022 - 14:07
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A mum is pushing for defibrillators to be installed in her town following the tragic death of her daughter.
Gilly Atkinson has been trying to help 'as much as possible' after losing her daughter, Laura West, in April last year.
Laura, 29, had been swimming at Lancaster University swimming pool when tragedy struck.
Sadly, she suffered a 'sudden' cardiac arrest and died.
After fundraising enough to install 10 defibrillators in Fleetwood in Lancashire, Gilly, 51, is now pushing to install 10 in Poulton-le-Fylde, before heading onto Thornton Cleveleys alongside Wyre and Fylde Community Defibrillators.
Gilly said the defibrillators are all 'up and running' and registered with North West Ambulance service.
"Three of them have been used already since they've been put in place," she added.
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"We're onto Poulton now. The main reason why I wanted to choose Poulton is because when I first moved here in 1995, its only a little town but there is so many that come to Poulton especially on weekends and there is only two fitted here.
"Even the businesses don't realise they're there. Its quite scary really, in the case of a cardiac arrest or a heart attack, that people might not know where to go to grab a unit.
"We've decided to move into Poulton, and as we've got 10 for Fleetwood, our main aim now is to get 10 for Poulton."
Public access defibrillators cost around £1200 and they've raised enough to cover three already.
Gilly said: "We've been really throwing ourselves at this, and our next event is for my daughter's 30th birthday and its being held in the Stocks and Shilling in Poulton."
Wyre and Fylde community defibrillators fundraising are hosting