Each day in the UK, 460 people die from heart or circulatory conditions, according to the World Health Organisation. Among those affected are seafarers, who often face critical delays in receiving emergency medical assistance.
Working with the Community Heartbeat Trust, SHS responded to this growing concern by equipping 200 fishing vessels with defibrillators and 250 with first aid kits – key tools to improve survival rates in the event of cardiac arrest.
“Many deaths at sea are preventable,” said Sandra Welch, chief executive of SHS. “By providing life-saving equipment and ensuring crews are trained to use it, we’re giving fishermen a fighting chance.”
In November 2024, Welch visited Looe in Cornwall for the first training sessions, where 26 local fishermen learned how to use automated external defibrillators (AED) and perform CPR.
These sessions, part of a wider effort that trained 500 fishermen across the UK, covered theoretical and hands-on instruction in identifying cardiac arrest and responding with immediate care.
Tina Hicks, harbour master and chief executive of Looe Harbour, praised the initiative. “The positive feedback on the quay has exceeded my expectations,” he said.
“The fishermen who attended these sessions have been full of praise for the training and equipment.”
Compact, low-maintenance and portable, AEDs are ideal for the unique challenges of life at sea. With continued training and support, SHS aims to reduce preventable fatalities and improve heart health outcomes among the UK’s vital fishing communities.
