The AED was accessible from the Bendigo bank, during opening hours, for a couple of years before the Lions club approached them with the idea of using money raised in the community to move it in an alarmed box at the front of the branch on Bridge st.
Last December that plan came to fruition and the AED has been accessible to the community 24/7 for any emergency situation, ever since.
Bendigo Bank community relationship officer Janelle Hossack said branch manager Jenny Lee got a call in the early hours of Sunday morning to say the alarm on the box was going off.
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“So she came down and noticed it had been damaged,” Ms Hossack said.
“Luckily we caught the act on CCTV and footage has been passed to Benalla Police to investigate.”
Ms Hossack said bank staff have been out and tested the AED and alarm box, and are happy any damage is not critical.
“The AED had dropped out of the box and opened up,” she said.
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“When it is opened it starts talking to instruct the user what to do.
“In the footage we can see that the person who has damaged it returned and closed it so the battery was not drained.
“The pads are still in the wrappers, which is good as they are expensive, and the actual defibrillator wasn't damaged beyond repair and is still working.”
Former Lions President Graham Milner said it was disappointing to heat that a member of the public had vandalised an item that could save someone’ life.
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“We were shocked to hear what had happened,” Mr Milner said.
“We raised money to put that there so it is easily accessible if anyone in town who might need life-saving help.
“We are glad it is not damaged beyond repair and hope this type of attack does not happen again.”
● If you saw anything, or have any information relating to this act, phone Benalla Police on 5760 0200.
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