South Coast Boardriders Association president Johnny de Graaf said he was grateful to Port Otago for the defibrillator, which was donated last week.
The donation comes after club member Jamie Civil died at Aramoana Beach on March 26 while he was competing at the association’s Herb and Paro Memorial Surf Competition.
Mr Civil went for a free surf and never came back.
A few people from the club ran to Aramoana Community Hall and got a defibrillator.
Three shocks were administered but Mr Civil had been in the water too long and could not be revived.
The death had left everyone devastated, Mr de Graaf said.
It was the second death the 200-member club had dealt with in recent memory. Chris Sinclair died on September 6, 2021.
Mr Sinclair had also been heavily involved in the club.
The defibrillator donation was a nice thing to come out of the tragedies and the club was very grateful to Port Otago as defibrillators were not cheap, Mr de Graaf said.
Port Otago would also be providing training for the device. One of its first aid officers was scheduled to visit the club soon, he said.
Port Otago general manager marine Sean Bolt said the donation came about as a result of cargo worker Gary Murphy asking for it from Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders.
"The chief executive thought it was a good idea and told me to go out and buy one," Mr Bolt said.
While the defibrillator might not have saved either Mr Sinclair or Mr Civil, it would be good to have on hand, and could be brought along when club members attended events in other locations, he said.
