Restaurant hits defibrillator fundraising target

An island hotel and restaurant has surpassed its fundraising target for a new defibrillator on Gorey Pier, after a guest at the venue had a suspected cardiac arrest on Christmas Eve.

The Mooring Hotel's directors Iselin and Matthew Jones thought their nearest defibrillator was in a neighbouring business, but when Mr Jones ran to get it there was no device available.

The couple decided to raise money to install a new defibrillator on the pier.

Iselin Jones said the response to an online fundraising page was "really amazing" and it had passed £3,000, which could buy more than one for the area.

"It was really scary actually," Mrs Jones said.

"Luckily the ambulance came really quickly and had their own defib and everything was fine, but it just made us realise that there is a lack of available emergency equipment in the area.

"In the summer this is one of the most visited locations, and so to think that there isn't one smack bang in the middle of the pier seems a little bit strange."

After surpassing the original £2,250 fundraising target in just 90 minutes, the hoteliers praised the generosity of donors.

"The response was really, really amazing and heartwarming," said Iselin Jones.

"The really nice thing to see is all our locals and regulars coming together, as a neighbourhood and as a community, to do something good for all of us."

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