Britain's ten most unexpected defibrillator locations from Snowdon to Shetland revealed

By SHAUN WOOLLER, EXECUTIVE HEALTH EDITOR Published: 00:01, 10 August 2026 | Updated: 00:01, 10 August 2026 Photos of Britain’s ten most unusual and extraordinary defibrillator locations have been released by the British Heart Foundation to raise awareness of the lifesaving devices. From Lundy Island, where there are more puffins than people, to the summit of Mount Snowdon in Wales, the pictures show off some of the most unexpected places that the kit lives. The BHF has published the images as it pushes towards a new milestone of having 125,000 of the heart jump-starters registered on the UK’s national defibrillator network. With more than 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK every year, the foundation said there is a need for a defibrillator in every corner of the country. The current survival rate for non-hospital cardiac arrests is less than one in ten - but timely defibrillation and CPR can double the odds. The pictures span from the most northerly device, at Hermaness National Nature Reserve on Unst in Shetland to the most southerly based outside a gin distillery in St Agnes, Isles of Scilly. The unit in St Agnes is perched on a rock as waves crash into the beach behind it. The whole island is just a mile across, with no cars and just 85 residents. Two miles from the mainland on the remote Welsh Island of Ynys Enlli, there is a defibrillator which serves just four human residents of the island, along with hundreds of sheep.  Mount Snowdon is home to the most picturesque defibrillator, which was used within the last month. Sitting at the summit of the highest mountain in Wales, a mountain with a 450-million-year history, this defib is available to the 750,000 people who reach the top each year. The defibrillator is placed in The Summit Café and boasts panoramic 360-degree vista views across Eryri National Park and as far as the Irish Sea.  The most inland defibrillator is pictured in Coventry, while the most easterly is close to Ness Point, in Suffolk. The most westerly is displayed next to Lough Melvin in Northern Ireland. Jayne Biggs, 55 from Bradwell Norfolk, is the guardian of 180 defibrillators on the circuit, including two of those pictured by BHF, the most easterly and lowest. In 2013, her daughter Violet went into cardiac arrest at home, and was saved when paramedics arrived and used a defibrillator on her, which restarted her heart. Ms Biggs said: ‘What happened to Violet opened my eyes to just how incredibly important accessible defibrillators are to everyday people. ‘Knowing that it was this device which helped to save my little girl, I knew I wanted to make a difference for others in my situation and similar. ‘I’ve campaigned for and installed nearly 200 defibrillators in Norfolk and Suffolk which I am responsible for looking after. I feel it’s my real purpose.’ The BHF hopes the pictures inspire others to register defibrillators and become guardians so that the UK can hit 125,000 devices by the end of 2026. There are currently just under 123,000 devices registered on The Circuit, which is a database created to provide ambulance services vital information about defibrillators across the UK. Sat right at the bottom of the UK based outside a gin distillery in St Agnes, Isles of Scilly, is the country’s most southerly defibrillator. The island is just a mile across and has no cars – the landscape is dominated by white-sand beaches, dramatic coastline and just 85 residents.  Placed nine metres below sea level at Broadland Great Yarmouth Rugby Club, is the UK’s lowest defibrillator. This defibrillator’s Guardian is Jayne Biggs, who is the Guardian for an astonishing 182 defibs across East Anglia, inspired by her own daughter’s cardiac arrest aged 7.  Bournebrook Church of England Primary School in Coventry are the proud owners of the most inland defibrillator in the UK. The defib in this small school of under 130 pupils, sits the furthest away from any coastline of any other device on The Circuit. Located two miles from the mainland, the remote Welsh island of Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) is home to just four human residents and hundreds of sheep. Lois Roberts and Aron Llwyd, both 29, make up half of the population and are the full-time wardens of this thinly inhabited island. They are also the Guardians of this defibrillator. Famous for being the UK’s highest pub, the country’s highest defibrillator is also located at the Tan Hill Inn in Swaledale, North Yorkshire. Sitting at 1,732 feet above sea level, the 400-year-old pub which has hit the headlines for having punters snowed in during the depths of winter, also houses this notable defibrillator. Pictured here with inn employee Max Watson. Located further north than Oslo, Norway, the defibrillator at Hermaness National Nature Reserve on Unst in Shetland, takes the crown for being the most northerly defibrillator in the UK. Pictured with dedicated defib guardian Juan Brown - operations officer at NatureScot. The tiny island of Lundy, home to just 28 human residents but around 1,400 puffins, takes the title for having the most remote defibrillator in the UK. Lundy Island, located 12 miles off the coast of Devon, operates without cars, roads or a permanent electricity grid. A stone’s throw from Ness Point in Lowestoft, Suffolk, is the country’s most easterly defib. In a carpet shop next to the sea, this defibrillator is closer to Amsterdam than it is to Birmingham. Pictured is Guardian Jayne Biggs who has two of her 182 defibrillators featured in this list. On the opposite side of the UK in Northern Ireland, is the most westerly defibrillator. On the edge of Lough Melvin, this defibrillator is situated at Garrison & Lough Melvin Anglers Association Clubhouse and cared for by local angler and Treasurer of the Association, Woodrow Acheson. Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive at BHF, said: ‘We’re so close to getting a truly nationwide picture of where defibrillators are located on The Circuit, but there are still thousands missing from it. ‘This means the devices are not visible to ambulance services in an emergency, when seconds count. ‘Please help us find these hidden devices. It’s easy to register, and it could save a life.’ 'You have to be trained to be able to use one' Anyone can use a public access defibrillator and you don’t need training to use one. Once switched on, it gives clear voice instructions and guides the user through every step so there is no room for error. 'I could accidentally shock someone who doesn't need it.' Defibrillators analyse the person's heart rhythm and will only deliver a shock if it's needed. They won't allow a shock to be given to someone who doesn't require one so there’s no risk of harm by attaching a defibrillator. 'If it’s in a locked cabinet, I can’t access it' Whilst the BHF campaigns for and installs defibs in unlocked cabinets, some are kept in cabinets which require a code to open. By calling 999, codes for the cabinets can be shared quickly and easily for access if the defib is registered on The Circuit. 'If I use the defib and someone still dies, I could be sued or responsible for their death' In a cardiac arrest, death is imminent without help, so you cannot make the outcome worse. AEDs give clear voice prompts and automatic heart-rhythm analysis. You are protected when acting in good faith if you follow these instructions. 'I should use a defibrillator on someone having a heart attack' You use a defibrillator when someone is in cardiac arrest, not when they are having a heart attack. They are two different things - someone having a heart attack is usually conscious, whereas someone in cardiac arrest will be unconscious, not breathing normally (or at all), and their heart has stopped beating effectively. A defibrillator is not needed if someone is awake, conscious and in visible pain.