Keiran's Legacy installs 'life saving' defibrillator at Elgin Golf Club
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IN 2013, members of Elgin Golf Club were left traumatised when one of their members collapsed on the golf course at Spey Bay.
Despite the application of CPR, the member's life could not be saved.
Nine years later, local charity Keiran's Legacy have made it their goal to equip every golf course in Moray with external defibrillators.
That has seen the charity instal defibrillators at golf courses in Forres, Hopeman and most recently Elgin.
Sandra McKandie, Keiran's Legacy chair and founder, said: "It all looks very serene and beautiful here at Elgin Golf Club but you have to be aware of the potential for things to go wrong.
"When they do, it happens quickly and for every minute that you don't have a defib on somebody, the chances of survival drops by ten per cent.
"It's great that we've been able to provide one for Elgin but our goal now is to make sure that all courses in Moray are equipped because we know that a few like Dufftown and Rothes don't have anything at the moment.
"Once we've done that, the goal is to spread out to Aberdeenshire and the wider Grampian area."
Staff and volunteers at Elgin Golf Club underwent first aid training as part of the defibrillator's installation on Wednesday, June 14.
For Club Captain Ian Savage, having the device on hand at the course is vital.
"When we lost that member at Spey Bay in 2013 it was all CPR and there was no defib," Ian said.
"We don't know if it would have made a difference but having one on every golf course could be potentially life saving.
"We're delighted to work with the Legacy on this. We're obviously getting a defibrillator out of it but we still have a commitment to make as a club to keep on top of the training and check ups.
"That's why having training days like the one we had earlier this week is so important."
Sandra added: "It's about having protocols and procedures in place so that if something does go wrong, people know what to do."
As well as providing defibrillators for golf courses, the charity aims to equip devices in areas where groups of people meet such as community halls and schools.
However, with each device costing around £1,000, the charity are reliant on donations and fundraisers to continue their work.
"We have a big fundraiser coming up next week so we're hopeful of a good turnout because the funds we raise obviously pay for these things," Sandra said.
"We're going to have an auction and a raffle as well as a BBQ so I'd encourage anybody interested to come along."
The fundraiser will be held at Miltonduff Hall on June 25.
More information can be found here.
