A heart attack of a visitor on the slipway of City of Cambridge Rowing Club in January has led to one of the oldest clubs in the City joining with the national charity RALPHH to prepare for any similar event.
The first aid training given to club members helped stabilise the situation and the man concerned thankfully recovered in hospital, but is was found that a nearby defibrillator was not accessible and the Club therefore decided to have equipment of its own. This was made possible by the RALPHH charity and the donated defibrillator was presented in late February by Mark Sutton, cousin to the late Robert Allen, whose untimely death from a heart attack in 2018 spurred the creation of the RALPHH (Robert Allen Life Promotion and Health Hearts) charity.
With its origins in 1865, City of Cambridge Rowing Club has over 200 members who row in a full range of boats and sizes, with juniors from age 13 through to masters rowing who include those in their 70’s. It has members who have qualified for Henley Regatta and also others who travel widely in competitions. It also has links with schools, including North Cambridge Academy. The home-stretch of the club’s water takes them five kilometres in one direction to Baitsbite Lock, and in the other 1.5 kilometre to Jesus Lock on the Rover Cam.
The newly-acquired defibrillator will find a permanent home inside the boathouse, once some building works are completed. It is also possible to take the lightweight equipment away at occasions such as competitions in other areas.
On hand to receive the gift from RALPHH and pictured in the Clubhouse upper floor gymnasium are: John Geater, Masters Co-ordinator and recently returned from competing in Bilbao; Club Treasurer Claire Berryman; Mark Sutton, representing RALPHH; and the Club Captain, Tom Upton.
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