ROYAL DORNOCH FLAG ON EVEREST MISSION
CPR campaigner David Sullivan is flying the flag Royal Dornoch.
The Surrey-based businessman and former armed forces trainer is part of a four-man team preparing for a Mountain Everest challenge.
David flies to Nepal on Friday on the first leg of a mission to stress test a battery-operated insulated defibrillator unit. He is targeting 20,000-plus feet.
It’s similar to the lifesaving kit installed at the Halfway House on the club’s Championship Course.
Swapping golf wear for climbing gear hard on the heels of putting a 19-strong greenkeeping team through their CPR paces, David was wished well on his travels and presented with a pin flag by club captain Gary Bethune and general manager Neil Hampton.
“I’m determined to take the pin flag and the defibrillator to unprecedented heights. I don’t believe any golfing item will have ever been higher than what we are aiming for,” said David, whose Code Blue CPR units, in a world first, were fitted to every buggy in the Royal Dornoch fleet.
“The golf club has been hugely supportive in the campaign to highlight how CPR and defibrillators save lives, with around 400 golfers in the UK suffering cardiac arrests every year. I have lost friends to heart attacks.”
Father of four David (62) has been training for months in preparation for the trek to Everest base camp at 17,598 feet, before tackling part of the climb with hand-picked Sherpas.
“It is uncharted territory for me and I have been guided by a close friend and adventurer with a track record of taking on gruelling challenges in demanding environments, Everest included,” he explained.
“He has selected three experienced sherpas who will be guiding us every step of the way.
“I am determined to activate the insulated Code Blue kit we have developed to ensure the defibrillator continues to operate at altitude and in ice-cold conditions.
“I will be spending a couple of days in Kathmandu doing some CPR training before the notorious flight into Lukla, which is regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous landings. That’s where the trek begins.
“For all the training I’ve put into this at all hours on local hills and cycling over the winter, I have been warned no one can predict how the body will respond to the threat of altitude sickness.
“My wife Sally and the family know I am taking this challenge very seriously and doing everything we can to minimise the danger element.
“I will be following the Sherpas’ instructions to the letter. Safety is paramount.
“I have done plenty of climbing but if I am showing any signs of altitude sickness, they’re bringing me down. But it is a team game and one of my companions will take over.”
David plans to demonstrate CPR techniques to villagers along the route – and leave defibrillators at Manche Bazaar and Kathmandu.
“I will be showing villagers how to use the defibrillator and passing on basic lifesaving skills, just as I did for the greenkeepers and 100 members of community groups in Dornoch.
“If you get a defibrillator on a patient in under three minutes their chance of survival is more than 80%.
“It’s great that Royal Dornoch have trained their greenkeepers in basic CPR skills. Hopefully other clubs around the country will follow their example.”
Royal Dornoch general manager Neil said: “We were impressed with David’s commitment and determination when he first visited us during a challenge hitting golf balls from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise awareness of CPR.
“We wish him and the team every success and look forward to them flying the flag for Royal Dornoch on Everest – and welcoming them back here for a game of golf over the summer.”
Photo: Royal Dornoch captain Gary Bethune (left) and general manager Neil Hampton present a club pin flag to Everest-bound CPR champion David Sullivan.