Local Restaurant Reaches Fundraising Goal for Life-Saving Defibrillator

An island hotel and restaurant has exceeded its fundraising goal to provide a defibrillator for Gorey Pier after a medical emergency involving a guest on Christmas Eve.

The incident prompted Mooring Hotel directors Iselin and Matthew Jones to reassess the availability of emergency equipment in the area. Believing a defibrillator was located at a nearby business, Mr Jones ran to retrieve it, only to discover that none was available.

Although paramedics arrived quickly and used their own equipment, the experience highlighted a gap in emergency provision on the pier. The couple subsequently launched an online fundraising appeal to install a publicly accessible defibrillator.

The response from the community was swift and overwhelming. Donations passed £3,000, far exceeding the original £2,250 target and raising the possibility of installing more than one device locally.

Mrs Jones described the incident as frightening and said it underlined the need for better emergency preparedness in a busy public area.

“Gorey Pier is one of the island’s most popular spots, especially during the summer months,” she said. “It’s surprising there wasn’t already a defibrillator readily available in such a central location.”

The fundraising target was reached within 90 minutes, with the hotel owners praising the generosity and solidarity shown by supporters.

“It’s been incredibly heartening to see locals and regular visitors come together so quickly,” Mrs Jones added. “It really shows what a strong community we have, and how much people care about keeping everyone safe.”