A HEARTBROKEN mother, whose only child died suddenly after suffering a cardiac arrest, is on a mission to install a defibrillator in the heart of Newton Abbot.

Tragedy hit Elaine Walsh and her family last year when 23-year-old Patrick Walsh suddenly died in California after pursuing his dream of moving to the States to take up a job in marketing.

The grieving mother, who lives in Teignmouth, has drummed up £1,500 and has bought the piece of lifesaving equipment to install in the Market Walk shopping centre.

But her community-spirited venture has come to a halt, with Teignbridge Council employees dragging their heels to help.

Ms Walsh said she had been in touch with an employee who praised Elaine’s fundraising efforts and said it wouldn’t be a problem to install in Market Walk.

Some five months on and nothing has been done with the defibrillator still sitting in Elaine’s house.

‘I am worried because the defib is in my house. What happens if a member of the public needs it in Market Walk tomorrow?, Elaine said.

She added: ‘I had a terrible time last year – I lost my only child out of the blue.

‘He was a fit young man with a career ahead of him.’

Talking about the tragic event Elaine said she spoke to her fit and healthy son every day.

But one day, she said Patrick was feeling unwell and thought he had the flu.

She tried to call him as usual but couldn’t get through so she raised the alarm with local police.

Patrick had died peacefully in his sleep.

Elaine said: ‘I was devastated but I decided to take action.

‘It is not just older, unfit, people who die from cardiac arrest.

‘A little girl went into a chip shop recently and had an arrest but she was saved by a defib.’

Figures show more than 30,000 people in England have a cardiac arrest each year but seven out of 10 of them could be saved if they reach a defibrillator within 10 minutes.

Desperate to get the defibrillator up and running, Elaine has called upon members of Newton Abbot Town Council to join her fight and put pressure on Teignbridge Council.

Councillors were appalled that the district authority was being so unhelpful when Elaine spoke to them on Wednesday evening.

Cllr Liz Roberts suggested the mayor wrote a letter to Teignbridge demanding to know why the defibrillator hasn’t been installed.

‘It is not on,’ she added.

Former mayor Cllr Carol Bunday said: ‘I feel so sorry for you, Elaine.

‘How can anyone not support this.’

District councillor Colin Parker told Elaine it was sad that not one of Teignbridge’s workers had got back to her.

He suggested the eight district members at the meeting should fire off an email to find out what is going on.

Cllr Jackie Hook, who sits on Teignbridge Council, said: ‘I will personally be at the employee’s desk tomorrow at 8.30am.

‘I am mystified as to why this has happened.’

Members believed it would be great to have a defibrillator in a public space because the existing equipment in Austins and the town’s library can’t be accessed when the buildings are shut.

A spokesman for Teignbridge Council said: ‘The defibrillator is going to be installed but it is taking longer than expected.’

The spokesman said the authority was looking at putting the equipment in the Market Food Hall but because it is a listed building it would be a lengthy process to get permission.

The authority is hopeful the installation will be carried out soon once the best location has been found and an electric supply has been set up.