Code Blue CPR

Defibrillator and CPR Training Up Everest

Good day, my name is David Sullivan. I am 62 years old, and live in Oxted, Surrey, with my wife and our four children.

I’ve tragically lost four close friends, all under the age of 46, to cardiac arrest. Seven years ago, I had a life-changing experience when I saved a young man’s life on a golf course. I performed CPR for nine minutes and used a defibrillator. The following day, his family informed me that he was alive. I couldn’t believe that someone like me had the ability to save a life.

I later learned that over 30 people had watched me perform CPR that day. I shared this story with a director at Philips, and he invited me to Vienna. Suddenly, I found myself—a fourth-generation roofer—among the world’s top resuscitation experts. Instead of laughing at my inexperience, they took me under their wing. I was inspired to help close the gap between the UK’s cardiac survival rate (8%) and places like Vienna, where it can reach over 56%.

For the past seven years, I’ve been working to spread lifesaving knowledge in the UK, driven by the memory of my friends and the young man I saved. It’s been a challenging journey, but my wife Sally has stood by me every step of the way.

Recently, my son Freddie and I developed a groundbreaking defibrillator cabinet: Using advanced materials sometimes found on space missions, this solution keeps defibrillators at an optimal temperature, even in extreme conditions, without power. This innovation allows us to place defibrillators in remote locations like mountains, golf courses, and forests, ensuring they are ready for emergencies.

To demonstrate this, on April 12th, I am taking a defibrillator, housed in our special box, to 22,000–23,000 feet up Mount Everest, making it the world’s highest-altitude defibrillator. During this expedition, we will train Sherpas and their community to become lifesavers. I’m sure my friends would be proud to know that their passing has inspired a mission to save countless lives.

For more information, you can find us on Instagram at CodeBlueCPR.co or contact us directly:

David: david@codebluecpr.co

07900087701