Life-saving defibrillators installed at Coventry Building Society Arena mark 400th for local charity

Members of OurJay foundation and staff at Coventry Building Society Arena

A pair of life-saving defibrillators have been installed at Coventry Building Society Arena, marking the 400th installed by a Coventry and Warwickshire charity.

The two automated external defibrillators (AEDs), donated by OurJay Foundation, have been fitted outside the venue. They are located at each end of the stadium and are accessible 24/7.

That includes during the venue's busiest periods, from Coventry City matches and major live music concerts to conferences, exhibitions and award ceremonies.

The milestone 400th device was unveiled by OurJay Foundation's trustees outside the North stand, with the second AED installed near the away end.

OurJay Foundation was formed in memory of Rugby teenager Jamie Rees, who died following a cardiac arrest in 2022.

The charity has previously installed defibrillators in Coventry at the Empire, in recognition of Jamie's love of music, and at Coventry Skydome, where he used to go ice skating, and throughout the city centre.

Coventry Building Society Arena is the charity’s first installation at a sports stadium, reflecting Jamie's own love of football. Since being formed, the foundation's network of publicly accessible defibrillators has grown to 400 across the country.

It brings the total number of defibrillators installed at Coventry Building Society Arena to 19.

Paul Michael, Managing Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, said: "Every second matters in a cardiac arrest and by having publicly accessible defibrillators available at both ends of the stadium will give people a vital head start.

"We've worked closely with OurJay Foundation and our own health and safety team on where these should be located.

“The defibrillators are available 24/7 and will be particularly important for us during major event days, be that a sell-out Coventry City fixture, capacity stadium bowl concert or major national conference and exhibition.

“It's been great working with the team at the foundation. They've done incredible work across this city in recent years and we’re proud to have been the location for the 400th installation.”

Naomi Rees-Issitt, Jamie's mum and chair of OurJay Foundation, added: "Jamie loved his football, so having a defibrillator here at Coventry Building Society Arena means such a lot to us.

“We've already been able to do this in Coventry for music, at the Empire, and for ice skating, at the Skydome, so this feels like it completes something for our family as well as for the city.

"Reaching 400 defibrillators is a big milestone and to do it at a major stadium for the first time feels really fitting. We'd love this to be the first of many stadiums.

“We’d like to add an extra couple of thank yous. Firstly to OurJay’s Tracey Brand and William Watson from the Arena, who worked so hard together to ensure these two community accessible defibrillators could be achieved.

“Thank you to Laina, Eliza and all at Coventry City Women and Girls, for their amazing donation covering half of the cost of the 401st OurJay community 24/7 defibrillator.”