As some of you may know on the 10th March 2017. I had a heart attack while swimming in the UL Arena 50m pool. I was saved due to the fast actions of the well-trained lifeguarding team and some bystanders with training in CPR. They were supported by the Garda (a trained first responder) and the Ambulance service and thanks to all involved that I am here to tell the tale. They allowed me to recover enough so the cardiac team in UHL could put 3 stents in my heart and I am now recovering very well. The Cardiac facilities in UHL are world class and we should be very proud the staff and the facilities,

My heart stopped 6 times in total and it was the determination of all involved that they were not prepared to let me go that I am here at home recovering with my 3 Boys Adam 12, Evan 10, and Hugo 6 and my wife Sarah. I had just lost my mother Bernie to pancreatic cancer on 6 weeks earlier so this could have been devastating had I not been lucky enough to have been so well cared for.

I have become aware that the Garda involved Paul and Niamh are part of a pilot scheme in which, as trained first responders and they react to text alerts for things like heart attacks, choking ETC within a 10km radius of Mayorstone Garda station in the north of Limerck city. However, they have only one AED in one patrol car and ideally could have one in each of the 3 in patrol cars that regularly patrol the city based out of various stations in Limerick.

I contacted the Anne Riordan the Regional Manager of the Irish Heart Foundation and found out they are about to kick off a fundraising drive to raise money to provide CPR training in all secondary schools around Limerick.

So please, in conjunction with the Irish Heart Foundation please support this fundraising drive because if we raise the funds to increase the number of AED's and people with CPR training in Limerick city, we can and will save lives and allow another mother or father like me to see their children grow up.

Please support this cause and if you are in your mid 40's like me (I am 46) please get checked out ASAP.

Barry Long