The mother of a Wokingham man who died while cycling in Swinley Forest has presented a defibrillator to forest rangers in memory of her son. Andy Chard was a keen mountain biker in his 50s and pursuing a sport he loved when he tragically died of heart failure as he was cycling along the blue trail in December 2013. The defibrillator will be a valuable addition to the team’s equipment pool, helping to ensure that all Rangers' vehicles will always have the best available equipment.
At a presentation ceremony held at The Lookout, Phyllis Wicks stated, “Our family really wanted to do something in Andy’s memory that would save a life in similar circumstances in the future. We hope this donation will go some way to achieving that”.
Accepting the defibrillator on behalf of The Crown Estate, Chief Forrester John Deakin stated, “This is an incredibly generous gesture made by Andy’s family in such sad circumstances”.
Swinley Forest is designated as a Special Protection Area of diverse habitats and species. Bike Swinley seeks to balance protection and conservation aims with the excitement of forest mountain biking by offering designated routes and bike parks of varying degrees of difficulty, encouraging riders to enjoy it to the full.