Defibrillator on Everest Saves Life, Sparks Global CPR Movement

Quick Smiles:

• David Sullivan installs a defibrillator on Mount Everest, which saves a life just three weeks later.
• Sullivan’s mission stems from personal loss, inspiring global CPR and defibrillator training.
• Plans are underway to train 1.2 million children in London in lifesaving skills.

David Sullivan, an inspiring advocate from Surrey, recently made a journey to the Himalayas with a mission that transcends the ordinary. As the founder of Code Blue CPR, Sullivan is dedicated to spreading the knowledge and accessibility of CPR and defibrillators worldwide.

Earlier this year, he embarked on an extraordinary expedition to Mount Everest Base Camp. There, he installed what he believes to be the world’s highest defibrillator, at an altitude of over 16,500 feet.

Sullivan’s motivation is deeply personal. He lost four close friends to cardiac arrest, all under the age of 45. This tragedy spurred him into action, leading him to not only install defibrillators but also to educate locals in Nepal about their use and CPR.

His efforts bore fruit sooner than he could have imagined. Just three weeks after returning to the UK, Sullivan received news that the defibrillator he installed had saved a young climber’s life.

“It was the proudest moment of my life when I learned what had happened,” he shared. The device was activated at 3:45 a.m. to save a 30-year-old French woman.

This experience reinforced his belief in the importance of defibrillator accessibility.

Sullivan now has his sights set on a new goal: a training initiative for 1.2 million children across London. The program aims to ensure that every school is equipped with a defibrillator and every student and staff member is trained in its use.

“We want every school to have a new defibrillator and every person in the school—students, teachers, staff—to have all the training necessary to save someone’s life,” he explained.

Reflecting on his own experience, he recalled performing nine minutes of CPR on a young boy. “When the lad’s mum called me the next day to say he was alive, it changed my life forever.”

Sullivan’s story is a testament to the power of action and education in saving lives, and his work continues to inspire others worldwide.

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