Lifesaving defibrillator map launched ahead of 2025 Moy Park Belfast City Marathon

This new initiative launched by the team behind the 2025 Moy Park Belfast City Marathon follows a powerful story from the 2024 event where runner John Deery suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during the race. Thanks to the swift response of a spectator—who had a defibrillator in his car—and a nurse who was nearby, John’s life was saved. Garry Nugent, Operations Manager at Belfast City Marathon said: “With thousands of runners, spectators, and volunteers expected on the course this year, having clear access to this kind of life-saving equipment is more important than ever.

“We want everyone to feel safe and supported on race day. The interactive map is now available here , showing the exact locations of every defibrillator stationed across the 26.2-mile route.



Speaking previously about what happened to him on that fateful day last year, John said: ""I was running through Ormeau Park at around 7 or 8 miles and spoke to some of the girls from my gaelic club who were fundraising. They have me on video but I don’t remember any of that. A good friend of mine took pictures of me minutes before I collapsed but again I don’t remember a thing.

"It was at Finaghy crossroads, the halfway point of the Belfast marathon which crosses from South to West Belfast that I collapsed. Four people have given me excellent first-hand accounts. Husband and wife Paul and Regina McKeown, good friends of my wife Janet and I.

Paul was standing at Finaghy crossroads. "The third person is a sister in the cardiac ward in the Royal Victora Hospital who was watching her niece and the fourth is Peter O’Hare who was there with his wife and two children and lived nearby." John talks about these people as his ‘angels’, who were in the right place at the right time to get him emergency attention, perform CPR and most importantly access and use a defibrillator which ultimately restarted John’s heart and brought him back to life.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here..