Bo'ness community furious after defibrillator box vandalised

The incident, which wasn’t reported to police, happened last Sunday. The device had been installed 11 days earlier outside undertakers Thomas Cuthell and Sons in Carriden, Bo’ness.

The vandalism came days after a man was saved by a defibrillator after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing football at Bo’ness Recreation Centre.

Pictures were posted of the damaged case on the First Responders’ Facebook page and residents reacted with fury.

Deborah Kidd said: “Absolutely stunned at the stupidity of whoever did that. Just the other week a man’s life was saved with a defib machine. Come on, surely common sense prevails, eh?”

Bryan Allison added: “Shocking, sheer stupidity.”

The defibrillator installed by Bo’ness Community First Responders was not damaged but the perspex in the cabinet needs replaced.

Chris Taylor, First Responders co-ordinator, said: “I received the phone call on Monday from the undertaker to tell us the box had been damaged.

“We were upset. It is one of those things. It happens all the time in the UK, they take the box off the wall and throw it away into the water or something, but it’s the first time I’ve heard of it happening in this area.

“I can’t understand why they would do that, it’s a piece of life saving equipment.

“It will need replaced but thankfully the company are supplying new perspex.”