Despair as Ashdown Forest defibrillator destroyed

The defibrillator was installed at the East Sussex centre in January 2023

Officials at Ashdown Forest have expressed their sadness after a defibrillator was destroyed by vandals.

The life-saving piece of equipment was taken from the Ashdown Forest Centre at Wych Cross near Forest Row last week.

It was taken from the visitor centre's car park and found discarded on a nearby roadside.

Ashdown Forest chief executive Mark Pearson said: "Defibrillators are costly, life-saving pieces of equipment, and we are saddened to have received this report."

According to St John Ambulance, defibrillators can cost between £800 and £2,500 to install. A temporary replacement device has already been sourced.

Mr Pearson added: "We are enormously grateful to the Crowborough Community First Responders who have acted with incredible speed to provide and fit a temporary defibrillator."

The defibrillator, which was installed almost two years ago, was funded by The Friends of Ashdown Forest and East Grinstead Memorial Estates.

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