'David would be proud' : Family's defibrillator appeal gathers pace

The widow of a much-loved family man who died moments after dropping off his grandson at a primary school said a fundraising campaign was helping her cope with the loss.

After Ann Marriott left husband, David, in their car to take grandson Marcus to Barnby Road Academy, last month, he suffered a massive heart attack.

On her return to the car at around 8.55am, Ann was helped by an off-duty paramedic and off-duty nurse, before an ambulance took 71-year-old David to Lincoln County Hospital. Despite doctors’ best efforts, he did not survive.

Marcus had formed a close bond with his grandfather, whom he called ‘Goggy’, as he stayed at his grandparents’ house in Winthorpe three or four times a week.

Parents and school teachers rallied round to lend their support following David’s death, before Ann set her sights on a fundraising effort that she hopes will save other people’s lives.

An appeal has been set up to fund a defibrillator — a device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest — to be located outside the school.

Although Ann, who was married to David for 48 years, does not believe the equipment would have saved her husband, she said a defibrillator would be worth the fundraising efforts if it saved only one life.

“David would be really proud that we are doing this,” said Ann, 71.

“This is something positive that can come after his death, and it has given me a way of dealing with it. I have kept going, because that is what my husband would have wanted.

“So we are raising money for a defibrillator outside the school in memory of him.

“We would like to put a plaque underneath about David.”

Marcus’s mother, Emma Marriott, of Newark, said he was very close to his grandfather, a retired cabinet maker.

“It was a very special relationship,” she said. “Because my dad was so good at woodwork, he would make all sorts of things for Marcus — they would play sword fighting and do archery.

“He once made a piece of furniture for my old house that was 7ft long, even though he had a 5ft long shed.

“Every piece he put together contained a special message on it. This particular one said: ‘When you see this, always remember me’.

“It had been given to friends of ours as it would not fit in our house in Newark, but they have given it back to us.

“If he could do anything for anyone, he would do it.”

Fundraising efforts

Ann, who works at Newark Copper Cylinders, approached her colleagues for fundraising ideas.

Mr Kevin Hempsall took up the challenge and on December 17 he will set off from his home in North Hykeham at 5am to walk the 44 miles to Skegness.

A JustGiving page has been set up for those who wish to contribute.

“Kevin has never completed that distance before — he has certainly never taken part in any marathons,” said Ann.

“But he is one of those people who is very positive. It was such a lovely touch of him to do it.”

Members of Marcus’s karate club, Shogai Karate Dojo, will complete 71 katas — detailed patterns of movements — in Winthorpe on November 30, to raise money.

The JSB swimming school, which Marcus attends, has also contributed to the appeal.

A tombola will be held at Barnby Road Academy to help reach the estimated £1,150 cost of a defibrillator.

Mr Steven Chamberlain, head at the school, said: “We have got over 500 children accessing the school so things like this can happen at dropping off and picking up time.

“It would be great if our community had access to one of these defibrillators.

“Marcus is a lovely lad and he wanted to raise money in memory of his grandfather.”

If the overall fundraising total exceeds that needed for the defibrillator, the excess will be given to the British Heart Foundation.