Mark King, founder of the Oliver King Foundation, has been awarded an OBE by King Charles, in recognition of his services to charity.
Mark set up the foundation in honour of his late son, Oliver, who suffered a cardiac arrest aged 12 during a swimming lesson at King David High School in 2011.
Oliver suffered from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS), a condition which claims the lives of around 500 people each year in the UK.
The cause of SADS-related cardiac arrests have not been found.
Mark said: “We’re 20 years behind everyone else in this particular field. We are very good in this country at treating illness, but we’re rubbish at preventative, and having defibrillators about is preventative massively.”
“I want the government to legislate. Make it law that wherever there is a fire extinguisher, there is a defibrillator above it.”
Mark has since devoted more than a decade to improve the access to defibrillators, campaigning to have the life-saving equipment put in every state school across the UK.
Since the launch, more than 7000 defibrillators have been installed and over 80 lives have been saved due to the work of the Oliver King Foundation.
Mr King said: “We’ve trained over 200 00 people into using these defibrillators, and I’ve delivered every one of those personally.”
“We’ve been as far north as Stornoway and as far south as Portsmouth, and everywhere in between.”
He added: “It’s not about figures or us saving more lives than anyone else, but the proof is in the pudding. What I am trying to do is working, and I just want the government to listen and work with us.”
Following the ceremony, Mark King OBE announced the foundation’s plans to open the UK’S first cardiac testing and prevention centre in Liverpool.
Mr King said the Liverpool electrocardiogram (ECG) testing centre would be dedicated to early detection and support for those at risk of heart conditions, particularly students and athletes.
Cardiac specialists will be located at the centre to guide patients through testing, results and any necessary follow-up care.
King said: “I’m only a dad, but I’m a dad on a mission. I don’t want anyone else to go through what we’ve been through.”
Find out more here: https://soundcloud.com/katie-bowers04/oliver-king-foundation-radio-package?si=9ff6a63cc29d468f9be4c47c2d92f460&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
