Ambulance bridgade's heroics recalled at annual Dublin gathering

Saving lives: St John Ambulance Brigade holds church service

ST JOHN Ambulance Brigade of Ireland personnel helped save the life of a man who was clinically dead, the organisation’s annual service heard yesterday.

Representatives of the estimated 600 members of the brigade from across the country attended the service at St Ann’s Church on Dawson Street yesterday morning. It has been held every year since the brigade’s foundation in Ireland in 1903.

Supt Paul Downes told the congregation that a defibrillator was pressed into service within 18 seconds of St John Ambulance personnel arriving on the scene to aid a stricken man in Limerick last month whose heart had stopped beating.

The defibrillator was part of the offertory procession for the annual service, which is held to mark St John’s Day. It is usually held at the chapel in Dublin Castle, which is currently under renovation.

All four major Christian denominations – Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian – were represented at the event. The welcoming prayer was given by Rev Joyce Rankin from St Ann’s Church, and the main address was given by Dr Mary Carson of the Presbyterian Church, who reminded the congregation that brigade personnel gave their lives in the past in helping others.

The parade, which is usually held annually, was cancelled because of yesterday’s bad weather. However, four cadets took part in a ceremonial enrolment yesterday and were welcomed into the brigade.