Pub launches defibrillator fundraiser after death
BBCA pub in Derby where a football fan died of a heart attack has already smashed its fundraising to install a defibrillator.
A Derby County supporter, who has not been named, collapsed in The Smithfield pub before his side's match against West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park on 23 January.
Pub owner Ben Miller said he was overwhelmed with the response to the fundraiser, having raised over £3,700, and plans to use the extra funds to fit defibrillators in other areas of the city.
"It's amazing. It just shows you what community spirit there is down here and obviously how important it feels for people," he said.
Miller said one of his bar staff suggested fundraising £1,500 to buy a defibrillator so they set up a page and "it just went wild from there."
Smithfields and Westminster Building Company, which occupies the upstairs of the pub, plan to install the defibrillator on Meadow Road later.
"We've got the bus depot, we've got ourselves, we've got the food court, we've got the wedding venue down the road," Miller described .
"Hopefully it never has to be used, but if it does, then it's here."
His partner, Emily Bowler, explained that their revised ambition was to raise enough for three more defibrillators.
She encouraged people to get in touch with them to suggest where the new units should be fitted.
"I don't think it has to be a pub, just the communities that should have one and really need one," she said.
PAD installer HeartSafe and the National Defibrillator Database list a combined 43 defibrillators across the city.
The Cross Keys in Ockbrook was the local pub of the fan who died and has taken Bowler up on her offer.
The pub will be holding its own 12-hour darts marathon to raise even more money for the appeal on 21 February.
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