A COMMUNITY defibrillator has been funded in memory of a 'well-loved' man from Prudhoe.
The fundraising event, held in memory of Prudhoe resident Jeff Newsome, took place on October 22 at the Dr Syntax pub and involved a bouncy castle, face painting, food stalls and a DJ.
Angela, Jeff's wife, organised the family fun day and said it was a success.
Angela, 56, said Jeff was an 'old-fashioned, genuine person'. He was a retired bridge engineer and one of his passions was motorbikes.
Jeff suffered a sudden and fatal heart attack and died on May 29 2022, at 68 years old.
A defibrillator was not likely to have saved Jeff's life, Angela was told by the coroner.
"He went out to a party for his bike club's anniversary and I had assignments due the following week so I didn't go. He just didn't come home," Angela said.
"Everybody loved him and knew him. He was a biker and for the funeral, 246 bikers turned up. That shows how much he was respected. He really was one of the best."
Jeff was part of the motorbike community called the Infidels Motorcycle Club, which raised £950 to contribute to the defibrillator.
The family fun day raised £560, enough for the rest of the defibrillator funds and to distribute to two charitable causes.
A fire engine from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and Prudhoe councillor Gordon Stewart attended the fundraiser.
Cllr Gordon Stewart said: "I am delighted to promote and support this great cause, and thank Angela for organising the fundraising. This is another great example of the fantastic community spirit found throughout Prudhoe."
"Extra funds will be divided between the Northumbria Blood Bikes which my husband supported, and Prudhoe's People's Treat.
"I approached all the local businesses and asked for raffle prizes. There wasn't one local business that said no - everyone donated something and we had 39 raffle prizes, from a smartwatch and vouchers for massages to gift sets."
Angela said the defibrillator will be fitted at Prudhoe Fire Station, which will be visible to passing traffic and accessible 24/7.
"Hopefully it's never used but it could potentially save someone's life," she said.
If a defibrillator is used within five minutes of cardiac arrest, the person has a survival rate of 50-70 per cent, according to the British Heart Foundation.
"Once this defibrillator is fitted, we're going to raise funds for another, on the other side of Prudhoe," Angela added.
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