AN APPEAL for a defibrillator to be installed at Haddington Golf Club has been started.

Members of the town’s Rotary Club, along with the golf club, officially launched the campaign to see the life-saving machine put in place earlier this week.

Drew Ramsay, president of the Rotary Club of Haddington, told the Courier that the idea came about after Mr Harvey Butterworth tragically died on the course at the end of February.

Mr Ramsay was moved after reading about the incident in the Courier and the idea of a defibrillator being put in place at the golf club was then raised at a Rotary club meeting.

Mr Ramsay said: “I knew Harvey and he was part of our golf sweep at Haddington Golf Club.

“One of my colleagues was playing with him on the day that it happened.

“I had Harvey’s daughter on the phone this morning [Tuesday] and she was absolutely delighted with the content of the letter we’ve sent to yourselves.

“She wanted to start the appeal off with £250, which is excellent.” An automated external defibrillator (AED) costs about £1,600 and the machines are designed to be used by members of the public, regardless of whether they have had any medical training.

The devices help save lives as every minute that the heart is not beating lowers the odds of survival by seven to 10 per cent.

Now, Rotarians are hoping to raise enough money to not only help purchase a defibrillator for the golf club – with the golf club also paying a percentage of the cost – but potentially one for the town centre, as well through the annual charity golf competition.

The tournament, held at Haddington Golf Club, is held on May 14, with money raised going towards local and national good causes.

Full details of the event can be found at www.haddingtonrotary.co.uk