Frustration as life-saving defibrillator is vandalised
Police say investigations are underway, including studying the CCTV footage
Last updated 24th Apr 2026
A Devon man - who’s saved at least 15 lives by installing and maintaining defibrillators across Torbay - says it's frustrating he now needs to fundraise after one was vandalised.
By the end of this Summer, volunteer Martin Copeman will have installed and maintained 60 of the devices, which can be used whilst waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
Devon and Cornwall Police has confirmed it is 'investigating an incident of criminal damage to a defibrillator on Union Street in Torquay' in the early hours of the morning on 12th March.
Mr Copeman said: "The unit had been take for a person in need and was returned, unfortunately the cabinet was not locked properly afterwards.
"CCTV show a young male who was clearly intoxicated see the light on in the cabinet and open the door, he then takes the unit out and walks off up the road holding it like a handbag, after walking up to the road the young man throws the unit in to the middle of the road.
"It was then blown around the road only later to be pick up by a SWISCO operatives who then proceeded to throws it in to the rubbish lorry. Never to be seen again."
The project is called the 'Preston, Paignton, Community Defibrillator Project' or PPDP and there are currently 58 units across Torbay - with more planned.
Mr Copeman has previously won an award from Hits Radio when it was called The Breeze Radio for his voluntary work saving lives and has also previously appealed after a defibrillator was damaged
Martin and his wife Jan have trained more than 700 people in how to use the life-saving equipment, which has been used across 350 emergencies and in 15 of 17 incidents saved lives after cardiac arrests.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 quoting 50260075266.
Why does Martin and his wife Jan do this?
Martin told us how the project started, saying: "My own reasons for doing this comes in three parts. No one is not money; I have worked in the NHS for more than 35 years in acute front-line Medicine and Anaesthetics and still do, Ramsay Mount Stuart support. Knowing how stretched things are on the front line was one reason. Two the fact I had to try and resuscitate you own brother in 2010 and failed as I had no equipment with me at the time (Mark 52). Finally, the fact that due to cutbacks in health care, I have spent hours and hours on streets with 23 people last 6 years, that have been Ill or had accidents on the roadside in Preston and Paignton. Sometimes without my own equipment. Which led to three of them losing their life."
What is the service they offer?
Martin said: "We are a non-profit making organisation. We try to help the public to save live by making it simple. We help to fundraise to help purchase the defibrillator unit and get discount from the suppliers, and we are VAT excepted. We then come and instal them on building, fences, churches, pubs. Then come and train you how to help save a life using them. We insurance the unit and then register the unit with the Circuit, this way we know when the unit has been used. Then come and check the unit over and replace what has been used i.e. pads and battery, also do the monthly maintenance checks."
How can I support the project?