Carnwath golfers buy defibrillator after death on course

07-05-2015 Picture Sarah Peters. Carnwath Golf Club Members who purchased a defibralator for the Community after a fellow golfer passed away on the course. Photo of all the Senior Members, Friends who played with Robert and 3 Members with Defib. Left to right George hamilton, Alan Randall and Robin Hogg.

And they wanted to ensure that anyone suffering a heart attack in future at the club, or in the village, had a better chance of survival.

So the senior section, some 40 members over the age of 55, began putting in 50p a week – and on Thursday they were able to hand over a defibrillator to be kept in the clubhouse.

Staff have been for training and the special IPAD (Intelligent Public Access Defibrillator) will be available for use in an emergency anywhere in Carnwath.

And being a golf club, the premises are open from 8.30am right through until darkness falls.

The seniors are a close bunch, and they were appalled when Robert Forsyth died in 2013, at the age of just 67.

“He is missed,” said golfer Willie Johnston. “He really is missed.”

“It was a pleasure to play golf with him. He had a good temperament for the game, and he was good company.”

And he added: “The defibrillator is going to be a real asset – an asset we hope we don’t have to use.

“But it is there.”