Young first aider on a mission to get a defibrillator for every estate in Jersey

Wednesday 20 December 2023

An 11-year-old who recently raised enough money to install a defibrillator in his home estate through doing chores and selling apples says it's now his "dream" for all estates to have their own.

Community-minded Rory Docherty (11) raised £1,300 over the year to cover the cost of installing an automated external defibrillator in his Les Quennevais estate, close to Roberts West garage in St Brelade, earlier this month.

He is a member of the first aid charity St John Ambulance and says he is passionate about volunteering as "it enables [him] to give back".

Rory raised the money by performing chores, selling apples and golf balls, and gathering donations from neighbours and a cardiac charity.

Pictured: During a sudden cardiac arrest, an automated external defibrillator delivers an electric shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm.

He said: “The support from neighbours was brilliant, and in no time I had raised nearly the full amount for a defib and the cabinet it’s kept in.

“One of our neighbours had links to the Jersey Heart Support Group, which also put funds toward the device.” 

His initiative was inspired by first aid training with St John Ambulance, which emphasised the ease of using an AED and its potential to significantly boost survival rates in cardiac emergencies.

Pictured: Rory Docherty has been a member of St John Ambulance for the past four years and has recently been awarded the title of Junior Young Ambassador of the Year by the Lions Club of Jersey. 

Rory said: “An aspect of first aid that stood out to me and something that others can do with little or no training is CPR and use of a defibrillator.

“After a training session, I started to think where is the closest defibrillator to my home. I worked out that it was further away than I thought.

“AED usage within the first three minutes of a medical heart emergency can increase the survival rate by 80 per cent.

“If there was one available on my estate, residents would instantly know where it was and would be able to reach it quickly during the panic and confusion of an emergency.

“It would also be accessible to anybody else on the island.”

Rory wants to help other estates next year in fundraising for and installing defibrillators, saying: “The dream is for all estates to have their very own defib.” 

He has been recently recognised by the Lions Club of Jersey, who chose him as their Junior Young Ambassador of the Year, and the charity offered their support to help him fund another defibrillator in a different estate.

Simon Blackmore, Youth Development Officer for St John's Ambulance, said: “It has been fantastic to see one of our St John Ambulance Cadets, Rory, take an interest in helping his local community by fundraising for defibrillators. 

“These devices can often mean the difference between a life saved or one lost.”