Brave Gertie dies during charity abseil
Obby 17/10 Mrs Gertie Painter
A WOMAN who died while taking part in a charity abseil at Crawley Hospital has been named as Gertrude Painter.
The 96-year-old, who was known as Gertie, had taken part in many similar events raising thousands for charity.
Paramedics were called to the roof of the hospital at 12.27pm on Saturday (July 28) where organisers of the 4SIGHT (West Sussex Association for the Blind) event were attempting resuscitation.
Crews were on site for an hour as they tried to save the woman.
A spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said the woman appeared to have suffered a cardiac arrest and added: “Paramedics made every effort but unfortunately it was unsuccessful and she was declared deceased at the scene.”
The second half of the abseil was called off.
A spokesman for 4SIGHT said: “We are extremely saddened by this tragic event and our thoughts are with her family at this time.”
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Weather for Crawley
Friday 24 May 2013
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