Event celebrates Professor Frank Pantridge and his life-saving invention

The life and work of Professor Frank Pantridge, inventor of the mobile defibrillator, was celebrated at a special event in Lisburn this week.
Mayor Brian Bloomfield MBE and Councillor Margaret Tolerton, Chair of the Heart City Steering Group, welcomed guests to Lagan Valley Island to mark 100 years since the birth of Professor Frank Pantridge CBE, inventor of the mobile defibrillator. Also pictured are Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA; Lord Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie OBE; Freemen of the City, Ivan Davis OBE; Seamus Close OBE; Councillor Janet Gray; Dame Mary Peters CH DBE and Director of Environmental Services, Heather Moore. Pic by Steven McAuley, McAuley MultimediaMayor Brian Bloomfield MBE and Councillor Margaret Tolerton, Chair of the Heart City Steering Group, welcomed guests to Lagan Valley Island to mark 100 years since the birth of Professor Frank Pantridge CBE, inventor of the mobile defibrillator. Also pictured are Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA; Lord Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie OBE; Freemen of the City, Ivan Davis OBE; Seamus Close OBE; Councillor Janet Gray; Dame Mary Peters CH DBE and Director of Environmental Services, Heather Moore. Pic by Steven McAuley, McAuley Multimedia
Mayor Brian Bloomfield MBE and Councillor Margaret Tolerton, Chair of the Heart City Steering Group, welcomed guests to Lagan Valley Island to mark 100 years since the birth of Professor Frank Pantridge CBE, inventor of the mobile defibrillator. Also pictured are Communities Minister Paul Givan MLA; Lord Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mrs Joan Christie OBE; Freemen of the City, Ivan Davis OBE; Seamus Close OBE; Councillor Janet Gray; Dame Mary Peters CH DBE and Director of Environmental Services, Heather Moore. Pic by Steven McAuley, McAuley Multimedia

Mayor Brian Bloomfield MBE and Councillor Margaret Tolerton, Chair of the council’s Heart City Group, welcomed guests and cardiac arrest survivors to Lagan Valley Island on Monday, October 3 to mark the 100th anniversary of Professor Pantridge’s birth.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, which has donated 10 defibrillators to local organisations to mark the anniversary, was delighted to welcome as its special guest, Communities Minister Paul Givan.

The Lagan Valley MLA handed out automated external defibrillators to several local sports clubs, marking the start of the roll-out of the Defibrillators for Sport initiative across Northern Ireland.

“The professor has left a lasting legacy with the invention of the mobile defibrillator and today celebrated a hero, whose mobile defibrillator has saved countless lives,” Councillor Tolerton said.

“We are delighted that survivors were with us this morning to celebrate this most special centenary and I would also like to thank those guests who attended who knew the professor, who was a Freeman of the City.

“I would like to pay tribute to the Heart City Working Group members who assisted with the event’s arrangements today,” she concluded.

Claiming that Lisburn and Castlereagh is “leading the way” in terms of installing and distributing defibrillators, Councillor Bloomfield added: “We had a full Island Hall to celebrate the life Frank Pantridge. It was a very good event and very well organised.

“It was a great tribute to Frank Pantridge and to his invention that has saved the lives of thousands of people worldwide.”