❤️ MISSEDABEAT Supporting Communities Through David’s Story ❤️Turning Survival Into Awareness, Action & Lifesaving Change
- Mark Preston
- 24 hours ago
- 4 min read
A post about David Robinson was recently shared with me, and since then I’ve had the privilege of meeting with his mam, Audrey. Hearing first-hand what happened to David was both heartbreaking and inspiring, and it reinforced exactly why MISSEDABEAT continues to fight for more accessible defibrillators across our communities.
Following our meeting, I advised Audrey that MISSEDABEAT would like to remove the burden of raising the funds needed to install a defibrillator at her workplace, Sandringham Care Home in Bishop Auckland. I’m pleased to say this is now registered on The Circuit as a 24/7 community defibrillator, available to help save lives in the local area.
📍 The defibrillator is located at:Sandringham Care Home, Managers Flat, Escomb Road, Bishop Auckland, DL14 6AB.
Even more incredibly, only days after the defibrillator was installed at the home, the device was activated during an emergency situation. Thankfully, the casualty made a full recovery and the defibrillator was not ultimately required, but this incident highlighted exactly why fast access to lifesaving equipment is so important.
Had the defibrillator not been installed at the home, staff would have needed to travel elsewhere to access a device, causing valuable delays in a potentially life-threatening situation where every second matters.
This is David’s story…
While on holiday in Wales, 21-year-old David Robinson suddenly suffered a cardiac arrest on Friday 13th March. Without warning, David collapsed and became completely lifeless.
Within just two minutes, his fiancée Justyce immediately started CPR and called emergency services. She continued performing CPR for an incredible 20 minutes before help arrived. David was shocked twice with a defibrillator before paramedics were finally able to stabilise him.
Around 25 emergency service personnel attended the scene, including two air ambulance helicopters, before David was airlifted to Glan Clwyd Hospital.
Following a CT scan, MRI, ultrasound and angiogram, David was diagnosed with ALCAPA (Anomalous Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery) — an extremely rare heart defect where the left coronary artery arises from the pulmonary artery instead of the aorta.
This condition affects around 1 in 300,000 babies, and tragically 90% do not survive their first year without diagnosis. Miraculously, David survived 21 years without symptoms or complications before suffering his cardiac arrest.
David was later transferred to Newcastle Freeman Hospital where he underwent open heart surgery, including a coronary artery bypass. He has also had a defibrillator fitted which will now monitor his heart for the rest of his life.
Throughout May, the amazing team at Sandringham Care Home are taking on an incredible challenge — walking the distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats — to help raise money towards their defibrillator project. Alongside the walk, the team already have lots of other fantastic fundraising ideas planned and are determined to do everything they can to support this lifesaving cause.
Audrey has also kindly agreed to have a MISSEDABEAT charity collection box at the care home which will help ensure the defibrillator always remains maintained and rescue ready for the community. In another fantastic show of support, Station View Pharmacy, located close to the home, has also agreed to have a charity collection box in place to help support the ongoing fundraising efforts and future maintenance of lifesaving equipment.
Their efforts highlight such an important message — cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, at any age, at any time.
Having access to a defibrillator and knowing CPR truly saves lives.
Audrey is now hoping to join forces with MISSEDABEAT to continue raising awareness, install more defibrillators and ensure existing units are properly registered and available when needed most.
Sadly, during recent checks in Bishop Auckland, we discovered over 30% of defibrillators we checked were unavailable to the public. Nationally, over 10% of community defibrillators are currently unavailable when needed in an emergency.
It was fantastic to also have Bishop Auckland Mayor Sam Zair attend the launch of the charity walk. This is now the second community defibrillator project that Sam has seen first-hand through the work MISSEDABEAT carries out across our communities. His continued support for the charity and the work we do is greatly appreciated and means a lot to everyone involved.
David himself also attended the walk launch, which made the occasion even more special and emotional for everybody there. Seeing David able to stand alongside his mam Audrey, the care home team, Mark Preston (MISSEDABEAT) and Mayor Sam Zair was a powerful reminder of exactly why these devices are so important.
Together, Mark, David and Sam officially set the sponsored walk away alongside the incredible team from Sandringham Care Home, who are dedicating their time and effort throughout May to help make their community safer.
Moments like this show the true power of community spirit. From Justyce’s life-saving CPR, to the emergency services, hospital teams, the care home staff and local supporters — every single person played a part in David’s journey.
MISSEDABEAT will continue working tirelessly to ensure more lifesaving equipment is installed, maintained, registered and available 24/7 when people need it most.
❤️ Thank you to Audrey, David and Justyce for allowing us to share this story.❤️ Thank you to Sandringham Care Home for your incredible support.❤️ Thank you to Station View Pharmacy for supporting the fundraising efforts.❤️ Thank you to Mayor Sam Zair for continuing to support MISSEDABEAT and our communities.❤️ And thank you to everybody continuing to back our mission to save lives.
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