The annual Dunloy Accordion Band Parade was stopped for a time on Saturday night after a member of another accordion band on parade took ill.
Cyril Glass, from Killycoogan Accordion Independent, suffered a heart attack a short distance along the route.
The former bandmaster was initially attended to by bystanders, one of which was believed to be a nurse, who administered emergency first aid alongside PSNI officers until the NIAS paramedics arrived to take over.
A local defibrillator was used which was located at the nearby Royal British Legion.
The chairman of the legion has said’
“As Chairman of Ballymoney Branch Royal British Legion I was really pleased that we were able to offer support to Mr Cyril Glass during the Parade of Bands on Saturday night past in Ballymoney.
“Our defibrillator was utilised and as a trained first aider myself I am in no doubt this piece of kit enabled the positive outcome that was. This incident will hopefully bring awareness to all who organise events of whatever type that the provision of First Aid treatment is an integral part of the planning, organising and event management process.
“We all have a duty of care to our members, participants and supporters. I wish Mr Glass a speedy recovery and also pass on my gratitude to all those who administered First Aid to him.”
Mr Glass was transported to Altnagelvin Hospital for further emergency treatment.
Fellow band member and local Councillor Alan McLean speaking to the Belfast Newsletter said that Mr Glass was ‘recovering well’.
Mr McLean also told the paper,
“We are all thinking of him and we wish him well in his recovery.”
Once Mr Glass was safely transported to hospital, the parade got underway again.
