Campaigning mum wants to use old phone boxes for lifesaving defibrillators

Kathleen Orr set up a charity in memory of her ten-year-old son Jayden, after he tragically collapsed and died in 2017 while at ice-skating practice.

She has ensured that local schools and other public places have the devices but wants to make sure the machines are readily accessible right across the area and believes using payphone boxes would be a good call.

Her idea comes after the Tele reported how BT were removing kiosks, with only 26 now remaining

Kathleen hopes former phone boxes like the one in Drumfrochar Road can be saved for defibs in instead.

Since starting her campaign following the death of Jayden two years ago, Kathleen has helped increase the number of life-saving devices from a lowly three to nearly 30.

Kathleen, of Port Glasgow, said: "We need more available 24 hours a day to save lives in Inverclyde.

"One of the barriers we have is getting outside cabinets with power.

"But using these phone boxes would solve the problem, as there is already power going to them.

"The one in Drumfrochar Road is ideal."

Kathleen has raised tens of thousands of pounds in memory of Newark Primary as she fights to ensure Jayden's name lives on.

Her campaign has gone all the way to the Scottish Parliament and now MSPs are looking at ways to change planning laws so that all new public buildings over a certain size must have defibs.

Kathleen and her family, supported by MSP Stuart McMillan, are also working with organisations including St Andrew's First Aid to ensure people are trained in how to use the machines.

They recently donated 30 defibs to the cause and Kathleen is trying to ensure they are placed strategically around the district.

BT have previously run schemes to encourage local communities to adopt phone boxes.

A spokesman for the company told the Tele that they would look into the prospect of the box on the corner of Drumfrochar Road and Ann Street being adopted.