A bereaved Moray mother has voiced her frustration at delays to a plan for police cars in the Highlands to carry defibrillators following a successful trial in the north-east.
Teenager Keiran McKandie was killed when he was knocked off his bike on the B9010 Dallas to Kellas road near Craigend.
His parents Sandra and Gordon have raised in excess of £30,000 since the tragedy in 2016 to buy defibrillators in his memory.
The life-saving equipment- each one worth £1,000 and bearing Keiran’s name – is being carried in 10 police cars in Elgin, Inverurie, Mintlaw, Stonehaven and Aberdeen.
And police have promised to roll out the successful scheme, which has already saved at least one life, to the Highlands.
However six weeks since the announcement, and Keiran’s mother feels there has been little progress.
Mrs McKandie said: “I am frustrated because people’s lives potentially could be saved. We need a plan. We thought there would be a decision by now.
“Even if it is six months away, it’s not ideal but obviously they have to think about training their officers and where these defibrillators are going to go. I accept some thought has to go into it but the general public think this is happening in Keiran’s name and in Keiran’s legacy.
“With bureaucracy and meeting upon meeting, nothing has been agreed to move it forward. It’s not about blaming people it’s about trying to move this forward positively to try to save lives.”
Road Policing Superintendent Louise Blakelock said: “A meeting with Gordon and Sandra McKandie on March 2 was unfortunately cancelled because of operational demand. We are continuing to explore the feasibility of this generous offer from the McKandie family and we will meet with them in the near future. Defibrillators continue to be carried in road policing vehicles in the north east.”
Communities have been raising money to put defibrillators in local areas.
Mrs McKandie is keen to roll out her son’s legacy even further by placing more defibrillators in strategic locations.
Keiran’s Legacy is a registered charity and people have been getting in touch because the charity can purchase them at a reduced rate.
One of the devices is known to have been used to save a life – successfully resuscitating a 52-year-old man who had pulled into a lay-by north of Peterhead last year.
