UPDATE: Stolen first responders equipment recovered after being dumped in alleyway

Most of the £6,000 life-saving equipment stolen from a response vehicle on Tuesday night in Great Cornard has been found dumped in a nearby alleyway.

On Wednesday morning Sudbury First Responders Team were rocked by the news that £6,000 of their self-raised equipment had been stolen from a car in Bures, Road Great Cornard.

The theft came just days after the team helped at the major fire in Friars Street, Sudbury.

Team coordinator Ray Cook had expressed his confusion over the theft, which included a defibrillator and oxygen mask, asking what use it would be to anybody other than the emergency services.

The ambulance service has condemned the actions of thieves who broke into a community first responder’s car and stole life-saving equipment.

The first responders are trained by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust and respond to patients in potentially life threatening conditions, such as cardiac arrest, to start providing emergency care whilst the ambulance is on its way.

However, the group relies on fundraising and donations to fund their life-saving equipment.

Jon Needle, community partnership manager for the Trust, said: “We are appalled by this incident. It is shocking to think that people would steal from a volunteer trained to save lives.

“We are pleased that the kit has been retrieved the kit and our local first response coordinator is checking everything is in the kit.”

The theft took place in Bures Road, Great Cornard, between 7.30pm September 8, and 9am yesterday, (September 9).

The theft has been reported to Suffolk Police. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.