Potentially life-saving defibrillator equipment has been donated to a Co Antrim camogie club in memory of one of its former youth players.
Maggie Black tragically passed away in December 2021 as a result of undiagnosed Addison’s Disease, a condition extremely rare especially in someone of the five-year-old's age. After falling ill at home in rural Glenarm, Maggie waited 70 minutes for the ambulance service to arrive on scene to administer medical assistance.
During the wait for medical aid to reach the Co Antrim coast, the Black family called upon the local fire service for assistance. Attending the scene that morning was Carnlough resident and Watch Commander at Belfast City Airport Fire Service, Martin Campbell.
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This state-of-the-art defibrillator was donated to St John’s Camogie Club in Carnlough by Belfast City Airport’s Community Fund.
Speaking at the installation of the defibrillator at the club's playing fields in the heart of Carnlough village, Maggie’s mum Sheenagh said: "We are so grateful for Belfast City Airport donating this defibrillator in Maggie’s memory and helping keep her name and spirit alive.
"Maggie was always so full of life at the camogie club, playing and having fun with her friends, so it’s very fitting for this life-saving equipment to be installed here.
"As a family, we would never wish anyone else to experience what we went through, but the sad reality is that this invaluable defibrillator, kindly provided by Belfast City Airport, will be needed somewhere down the line and it could be the difference between life and death."
Compelled by the passing of their daughter, Maggie’s parents launched a petition, Maggie’s Call, which called for the fire service to also be automatically dispatched alongside the ambulance service to emergency medical calls in rural areas.
Whilst the service is up and running in Carnlough, 18 months down the line, it has not yet been given the green light elsewhere.
The defibrillator installation comes ahead of an annual camogie tournament in the village held in Maggie’s memory each summer and is the latest project supported by Belfast City Airport’s Community Fund.
The airport's Director of Corporate Services, Michelle Hatfield, said: "It is a true privilege and pleasure to be able to donate this potentially life-saving defibrillator to St John’s Camogie Club in memory of ‘Wee Maggie’ as she was affectionately known to all around her.
"Carnlough is a picturesque and beautifully peaceful place to live but its rural location does mean that quick access to vital medical help in times of emergency is extremely limited.
"Whilst this equipment cannot substitute for professional medical attention, it will act as a critical lifeline for people until such assistance can reach them and it will undoubtedly save lives in the future.
"Community is at the heart of everything we do at Belfast City Airport so hearing how the whole village of Carnlough came together in a time of need, including one of our very own employees, and how it has supported each other ever since, inspired us to explore ways the Airport could help too.
"We are delighted to have found a way to possibly prevent future tragedies in the area and honour Maggie’s memory."
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