Help in a heartbeat for Sidmouth

A new public access defibrillator has been installed outside Sidmouth Police Station, thanks to a collaborative fundraising effort by Jay’s Aim charity and Bupa Dental Care.

Located by the side entrance near visitor parking on Temple Street, the equipment is now available to support people in cardiac emergencies, offering fast access when every second counts.

PC Tom Driver, from Sidmouth’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, welcomed the donation: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Jay's Aim Charity and Bupa for their incredible fundraising efforts. Having a defibrillator in such a central location in Sidmouth can make all the difference in saving lives when every second counts.”

The project was part of a larger community-driven effort coordinated by Sidmouth Bupa Dental Care.

Alice Reid, Practice Manager, explained: “We had 20 Bupa practices taking part who had to row and cycle 40 miles in one day to raise funds. We involved the community here in Sidmouth who all kindly donated, sponsored and helped get us the mileage. We carried out cake sales, raffles, donations - all sorts.”

She continued: “To our wonderful Sidmouth community, thank you for your generosity and support. You’ve all helped make a real difference, and we’re incredibly grateful to be making a difference together.”

The defibrillator forms part of a wider mission led by Jay’s Aim, a Devon-based charity named in memory of 28-year-old Jay Osborne, who died unexpectedly from an undiagnosed heart condition.

The organisation has delivered CPR and AED training to more than 20,000 young people and funded over 220 defibrillators across the South West.

Other defibrillators in Sidmouth can be found at:

• Sidmouth Sailing Club (Watersports Hub)

• Tesco on High Street

• Sidmouth Rugby Club

• All Saints Church