A lifesaving piece of medical equipment has been donated to a school in memory of a former pupil who died suddenly
A lifesaving piece of medical equipment has been donated to a school in memory of a former pupil who died suddenly.
Demi Sharif was just 13 when she collapsed in the bathroom at the family home in Camden Street, Stockton, after her heart stopped beating.
Attempts were made to revive Demi before she was taken to hospital by ambulance. She was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
An inquest later heard that the Our Lady and St Bede School pupil was a fit and healthy teenager when she died, but her heart was the most likely cause of death.
More than three years on from the tragedy in January 2011, Demi’s parents Vicky Porritt and Naeem Sharif presented a defibrillator to their daughter’s school in the hope it could help save the lives of other young people.
The equipment, worth £1,200, was donated to her parents by the North East Hearts and Goals charity.
Jackie Devine, Key Stage 4 mentor at the school and a first aider, said staff would be trained in using the defibrillator by the St John’s Ambulance.
“If one small act of kindness saves somebody’s life that’s wonderful,” she said.
Vicky said it was an emotional day returning to her daughter’s school to make the presentation, but it was for a very good cause.
“There is a 50% chance of survival if a defibrillator is used,” she said. “We’d like to see every school have one.”
Vicky and Naeem set up a memorial fund in their daughter’s name to help save teenage lives on Teesside. Money raised will be spent on ECG tests for local teenagers to detect undiagnosed heart conditions.
The popular schoolgirl, who left brothers Ben, Lewis and Cameron and sisters Bethany, Chloe and Jade, was described by friends on a tribute page after her untimely death as “Our brightest star in the sky. Our perfect angel.”
Some six weeks ago Demi‘s parents were left sickened after heartless thieves stole a metal plaque for their daughter from Durham Road Cemetery in Stockton.
Her dad said: “When something like that happens it really knocks you back.
“We’ve told police.”
Anyone with any information on the theft can contact Cleveland Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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