By DANIELLE GALVIN
WHEN young Lang Lang father Sean Meyer collapsed and died at his home last October, his family and friends were adamant that he would leave behind a life-saving legacy.
Lang Lang Community Emergency Response Team manager Rosie Kane worked to save Sean’s life using a defibrillator but by the time paramedics arrived it was too late for the 27-year-old.
At his funeral, his devastated family and friends requested that guests donated money to the Lang Lang CERT team instead of bringing flowers.
CERT team members were touched by the Meyer family’s offer and decided the money would be best spent on a defibrillator.
On Wednesday last week his family and friends joined Woolworths staff, Lang Lang CERT members and Ambulance Victoria representatives to hand over the defibrillator and erect a plaque in Sean’s honour at Kooweerup Woolworths where it will be stored.
His wife Jenny said it was a great thing for the community that has continued to support her and Sean’s family following his death.
“What the CERT team does is just so incredible,” she said.
“And that’s what Sean would have wanted – just to have something good come from something so devastating.”
Ms Kane said the CERT team was touched by the Meyer family’s gratitude and they came up with the idea for the defibrillator in the centre of town.
“We have about 10 in the Lang Lang area and something like 35 in the surrounding areas,” she said.
The defibrillator shocks the heart back into a regular rhythm.
Ambulance Victoria’s Emergency Response Co-Ordinator Ewan Humphries said it was beneficial to have a defibrillator in a central location.
“It may only be a minute or two until the ambulance gets there but if that person’s heart needs a shock then having it readily available in the community can be life-saving,” he said.
Mr Humphries said that the machine only shocks someone if they need it.
Woolworths store manager Chris Freame said the community was right behind the cause.
He believes it to be the first Woolworths in the country with a defibrillator in store.
