Family Pushes for AED's at all Sporting Events After the Tragic Death of Andrew Stoddart

Friday, 22 May 2015 15:37

Players on the U15 Embro soccer team will be playing with heavy hearts tonight as they remember a former teammate and friend

EMBRO - Players on the U15 Embro soccer team will be playing with heavy hearts tonight as they remember a former teammate and friend. 15 year old Andrew William Stoddart died on May 11th after collapsing on a soccer field playing the game he loved. Andrew was a star athlete and a very active youth who excelled at sports including soccer, football and track and field. His uncle Ron Funnell tells Heart FM Andrew was just a great kid who was never sitting down and always active. Andrew was a healthy kid and showed no previous signs before he collapsed on May 11th and his family believes having an Artificial defibrillator or AED at the soccer field may have saved his life.

Friday's home game is in Andrew's honour and the team has made the field with Andrew's number, 11. Additionally, they will be sporting the # 11, on their jerseys. Their goal, and the goal of Andrew's family is to raise much needed funding and awareness about the importance of having Artificial Defibrillators at all sporting games. Donations can be made online via gofundme in Andrew Stoddart's name and directly thru The Thamesford Fire Hall. Tonight's event is the first of many fundraisers in support of AED's in Andrew's memory. The game starts at 7 p.m in Embro.

Andrew's Mom, Cara said "If these are readily available at all sporting events, athletes can be saved. We rely heavily on Emergency Responders and for many sporting events there is considerable distance for these professionals to travel. Time is of the essence and by having AED's on site, measures can be taken immediately. Our goal is to see portable defibrillators at all sporting events across the province and throughout Canada." Andrew's father Bruce added "We are devastated, the community is devastated by this senseless tragedy. This is preventable. I believe that Andrew would be with us today if these lifesaving units were on site"