New defib installed at Time Square

Warrington town centre’s first outdoor defibrillator has been installed at Time Square thanks to the phenomenal fund-raising efforts of Aidan Jackson.

Aidan, 19, has raised more than £40,000 to buy 23 of the life-saving devices with most positioned around his home town of Halton.

He wanted to expand their coverage and approached Time Square managing agents, Knight Frank, to see if they could install one at the council-owned leisure and retail development in the town centre.

Elizabeth Fee, associate director at Knight Frank, said: “We were delighted to help Aidan in his quest. These machines save lives and to have one accessible 24 hours a day in this prominent area is really important.

“It is positioned on the wall outside the management offices at Time Square, right by the side of Warrington Market and we are grateful to our M&E suppliers, BGIS, for installing it free of charge.”

Each machine costs around £1,600 with the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund – in memory of rugby player Danny Jones – donating £250 to each one, and Knight Frank also made a contribution of £400.

Aidan’s fund raising continues despite him suffering his own health problems with asperges, epilepsy and ADHD, and over Christmas he suffered two seizures.

He said: “I started out just wanting to buy one, then one became two then two became four. I am now raising money towards the 24th and plan to take a back seat for a while and let others take over when I have seen the 25th one bought and installed.”

Statistics show that if a defibrillator is used on a patient within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, they have a 60-70 percent chance of making a full recovery.

The Time Square defib is now on a national register and when a 999 call is received for someone believed to be in cardiac arrest, the ambulance service can check in seconds if there is one nearby.

Cllr Tom Jennings, cabinet member for economic development and innovation, said: “Aidan and his family are an inspiration. I give my thanks to them and everyone who made this happen. Defibs save lives, so it's important people know that Warrington town centre now has one accessible 24 hours a day.”