Defibrillator saved director's life

When Jim Joyce, pictured with his wife Pat, collapsed during a board meeting back on Wednesday 2 September his fellow directors called 999 before using the defibrillator they'd purchased in the summer to resuscitate him before the arrival of an ambulance.

Doctors at the Tameside Hospital later said the former headmaster had suffered a cardiac arrest and confirmed that the defibrillator and the speedy reactions of his colleagues at the First Division North club's Arthur Goldthorpe Stadium had undoubtedly saved his life.

The 65-year-old, who has since had his own personal defibrillator - a cardioverter-defibrillator - implanted in his chest after his heart attack, has no doubts.

He said: "Glossop North End have been close to my heart for over 20 years but I could never have guessed how close! Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. Well football certainly became life and death to me as Glossop North End saved my life.

"One doctor said to me, 'You suffered a power cut'. The technical term is ventricular tachycardia and this apparently causes eight out of 10 adult sudden deaths. But my life was saved through the quick action of the other board members and the use of the recently purchased defibrillator which was sitting in the room and still in its box!"

Like more than half of the EVO-STIK NPL's clubs, the Hillmen purchased their defibrillator with the help of the Football Association and British Heart Foundation who set up a scheme to underwrite the costs after the collapse and subsequent recovery of Bolton Wanderers star Fabrice Muamba at Totteneham in the FA Cup in 2012 highlighted the dangers of sudden cardiac arrests.

The unique partnership, set up after lobbying from the EVO-STIK NPL and other leagues, has seen more than 900 defibrillators made available to clubs playing at Steps 1 to 6 of the National League System. The Hillmen took advantage last season while they were on the way to winning promotion as North West Counties League Premier Division champions.

Only around 1 in 10 people normally survive a witnessed, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK and Glossop North End's secretary Peter Hammond urged other clubs to make sure they were properly equipped.

Hammond said: "We recommend to all clubs that this is a very worthwhile investment. Like us, you may thank God, for having one to hand.

"If Ray hadn't been at the club when it happened he probably wouldn't be here today with us. The decision to get the defibrillator turned out to be a life-changing one so we can't urge others strongly enough to do the same."

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