$20k raised for defibrillators after Philip Jones’ Wategos Beach death

The brother of Philip Jones, a local surfer who passed away at Wategos Beach in August, has welcomed a huge effort to bring life saving devices to beaches across the region.

Liana Boss

2 min read

October 12, 2021 - 4:00PM

$20,000 worth of defibrillators secured for North Coast

Community News

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When a “perfect Byron day” turned into tragedy at Wategos Beach in August, the absence of one lifesaving device became keenly apparent to locals.

In the wake of the sudden death of local surfer Philip Jones, the community has rallied to bring defibrillators to beaches in the area.

It began with a push for three of the heart-starting devices but as of Tuesday, thanks to a massive community effort $20,000 has been raised to help purchase 10 defibrillators.

While it’s not certain whether one of these devices would have saved Philip, there are high hopes future tragedies like this can be prevented.

Tweed Byron Police District Inspector Matt Kehoe with Michael Ibrahim, who was involved in a campaign to get defibrillators on local beaches after the death of local surfer Philip Jones at Wategos. Picture: Liana Boss

Philip had a pre-existing heart condition.

Byron Bay man Michael Ibrahim was at Wategos as the events unfolded in August and recalled the rush to try to find a defibrillator.

Unfortunately, there was not one on hand.

But that’s about to change.

“We’ve raised enough money for 10 at this point and we’re working to get a stationary one at Tallows Beach,” he said.

“In these tough times where people are struggling for money, it was overwhelming.”

Along with locations along the coast, three are being donated to police to carry in their vehicles and another to Marine Rescue in Brunswick Heads.

Wategos Beach. Picture: Liana Boss

“We have a beach that can be amazing some days and notorious others,” Mr Ibrahim said.

“Hopefully we never have to use these defibrillators but at least we can be rest assured that we have the defibs on all the beaches.”

One of Philip’s brothers, Richard Jones, said the family was grateful for the community’s support of the scheme.
“Unfortunately Phil was the catalyst for it but we’re grateful of the result,” Mr Jones said.

“It does help to know there is a silver lining around this cloud of grief that has overcome our family and the loss of a life too young.”

Procuring the devices has been expedited with the help of a family friend.

The late Philip Jones, from Byron Bay, has been remembered lovingly by his family after he passed away at Wategos Beach in August.

Mr Jones said he was flatmates and training partners with former ironman Guy Leech in Manly the 1980s.

Mr Leech, through his own defibrillator program, helped the community to obtain the devices at cost price and in a more efficient way.

This meant they could secure them for about $1800 each instead of $2500, according to Mr Ibrahim.

“It’s probably better late than never,” Mr Jones said.

“These things should be accessible to public locations all around the shire.”

Tweed Byron Police District Inspector Matt Kehoe at Wategos Beach. Picture: Liana Boss

Byron Bay Inspector Matt Kehoe said two defibrillators donated to Tweed Byron Police District would be placed in police vehicles operating from Byron Bay and a third will go to Brunswick Heads.

“We’re often the first emergency services to get to incidents of this nature so to have a key piece of equipment like this … will be really important for our operational police out there,” Insp Kehoe said.

“I think it really does sum up what Byron Bay is all about; it’s about kindness and people thinking about other people in the community.”

A police car which was already in the area was the first on-duty emergency vehicle at the scene but an off-duty paramedic and doctor were among the first to render assistance to Philip on the beach.

The defibrillators will be placed in the following locations: