A St John Ambulance volunteer from Tunbridge Wells has completed a sponsored tandem parachute jump to raise money to buy an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).
Ben Crossan, 27, is the unit manager for Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge adult unit and took to the skies to raise more than £1,200 for a new AED for the unit’s volunteer first aiders to take to local events. It was his first parachute jump.
Ben, whose day job is as the assistant manager at The Beau Nash Tavern, said: “The jump was totally exhilarating but I’m glad it’s over.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by people’s support and it’s amazing to know the money I’ve raised will potentially help to save someone’s life in the future. I’d like to give a huge thank you to everyone who’s donated money – my friends, fellow volunteers and all the staff and customers at the pub.”
When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, their chance of survival falls by 10 per cent every minute they go without first aid. With CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and the use of a defibrillator within three minutes, their chance of survival could be as high as 70 per cent.
That’s why St John Ambulance wants to make sure its volunteers have defibrillators available when they are needed most.
Ben became a St John Ambulance volunteer around four years ago after completing a first aid at work course with the charity whilst working as a teaching assistant in a local primary school.
He has had to put his first aid skills into practice when a male pedestrian was hit by a car just outside the Beau Nash.
