Life-saving defibrillator installed at Scott Monument

One of Edinburghs most famous landmarks has become the latest venue to install a defibrillator. Picture: St John's

Council worker Mike collapsed with undiagnosed cardiomyopathy two years ago while visiting Oak Tree Vets on Queensferry Road.

He was revived by vet Henrietta Linnemann who performed CPR for 20 minutes  until emergency services arrived.

It was this, and the defibrillator medics used four times to shock Mike’s heart back into action, which saved his life.

He had a 20-1 chance of survival and said being lucky to live through such a traumatic experience he wanted to give people the opportunity to have a better chance of survival.

Around 70 people a week have a cardiac arrest in Scotland, and current survival rates are a dismal one in 12.

Mike decided to raise money to fund Public Access Defibrillators to give more people the chance of surviving cardiac arrest. He went on to raise more than £5,000, enough to fund four defibrillators across the city.

Two have been installed so far – one on a tram, and another at the Boardwalk Beach Club café in Cramond.

And the latest defibrillator has now been unveiled in the very heart of the city at the Scott Monument.

Mr Pinkerton said: “First and foremost, I’m delighted to still be here – and delighted that some of the money I’ve raised has been able to fund a life-saving defibrillator for the Scott Monument. Thousands of people walk through or spend time in East Princes Street Gardens each day so it is an ideal location.

“The St John and the City project is all about getting as many defibs as possible installed in public places – giving someone suffering a cardiac arrest the best possible chance of survival.

“I was lucky enough to be saved by someone willing, able and brave enough to use CPR and I’d encourage you to learn how to do it. It’s so easy – and you could save somebody’s life.”

The St John and the City project has so far seen more than 135 defibrillators placed across Edinburgh and surrounding areas. In December, three were installed at The Castle, while each of the city’s trams has been fitted with one.

Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Frank Ross said: “This is yet another impressive addition to St John and the City’s ever growing map of public access defibrillators.

“Positioned in the heart of the city centre, it could be deployed at a moment’s notice at the monument, in the Park or within this section of Princes Street.”

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