Police force has life-saving tech in all response cars thanks to Pride of Britain winners

A police force became the first in the UK to have a life-saving defibrillator in every response vehicle today – thanks to two Mirror Pride of Britain winners. Sergio and Emma Petrucci, the North-east winners at our awards last year, have given £200,000 through their charity to put defibrillators in the 154 Northumbria Police vehicles.

Their Red Sky Foundation charity, started after their little girl Luna had life-saving heart surgery in 2015, has raised £2.5million for patients with complex heart conditions. Sergio, 49, said at the handover of the defibrillators in Gateshead: “The chances of survival with a defibrillator go from seven per cent to 80 per cent in some cases. This is testimony to the work we do with Red Sky.

"These can be used to save children and adults. We first spoke about this in February and now we are here in June making it happen. It will save lives and is down to all the supporters who help us with their fundraising.”

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The partnership with Northumbria Police was formed after PC Mark Atchison saved the life of Philip Wright, 72, when he collapsed in a Sunderland pub in January. Philip said: “I was dead for eight minutes but the officer worked on my heart with the defibrillator. If it was not for the machine, I would not be here.”

Also at the defibrillators handover was Naomi Rees Issitt whose son Jamie Rees, 18, suffered a heart attack on New Year ’s Eve, 2021. Police were quick to give him CPR but had no defibrillator which would have saved him and he died on Jan 5, 2022.

Naomi, 45, of Rugby, was meeting Home Office Minister Dame Diana Johnson yesterday in her campaign to give defibrillators to police nationwide.

“We are trying to bring in Jamie’s Law to help every police force,” she said. “We want them to be mandatory so every police vehicle has a defibrillator.

"My son saved five lives through organ donation. Defibrillators in his name have saved another 17 lives. A shock to the heart with a defibrillator would have saved him – if the police had only had one.”

Assistant Chief Constable of Communities, Andy Hill, of Northumbria Police said: “First and foremost I’d like to thank the Red Sky Foundation for this truly life-saving donation.

"Without their support, this wouldn’t have been an achievable milestone. Having a defibrillator in every single response car is going to make a huge difference to how we respond to cardiac arrests and ultimately, the outcome.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth added: "Our response teams are so often first at the scene in situations where these devices are needed.

"This kit will be vital and help save lives. The charity Red Sky is committing to support this for the next four years.

"All our officers are trained in how to use them. It is a wonderful thing."