Teenager arrested after football club's defibrillator is vandalised
14 June 2021, 08:27 | Updated: 14 June 2021, 09:47
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after two people were caught on CCTV vandalising a defibrillator kit at a football club.
Buxted FC said the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, was "heartbreaking".
Writing on twitter, the club said: "Last night at 12:50am, our defibrillator was vandalised.
"It was caught on CCTV so if anyone has any information about who these two people are then please report it to Sussex Police."
Read more: Christian Eriksen - Denmark midfielder stable after collapsing during Euro 2020 game
It comes after Danish footballer Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during his side's Euro 2020 game against Finland on Saturday.
Eriksen was given prolonged treatment on the pitch before being taken to hospital where he is now awake and recovering.
A Sussex Police spokesman said on Monday: "We are investigating a report of a defibrillator being damaged and stolen at Buxted FC on 13 June.
"A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.=
"We're aware of a video circulating online and would ask the public not to post speculative comments."
The footage, posted on the Buxted FC twitter account, has been viewed more than a million times since it was posted on Sunday evening.
It was retweeted by actor Martin Kemp who described what had happened as "the pits".
"I rarely get upset, angry or surprised by people's behaviour but this is the pits," he said.
"I hope they will be disgusted with themselves when they get caught."
Richard Turner, chairman of Buxted FC said the incident was "absolutely disgusting".
"Those things save people's lives and someone has come and trashed it," he told said,
"The whole world saw what happened to Christian Eriksen on Saturday so why would anyone think that's ok?
"Everyone at the club is a volunteer, we work hard for what we've got, but now we'll have to raise funds to replace it.
"It's just heartbreaking."
Mr Turner said before the incident, Buxted FC had been celebrating winning the mid-Sussex division one league trophy.
"Now I think we're more upset than angry after what's happened," he said.
He added that the community had been "brilliant" in its support and many people had offered to help install a new defibrillator.
"Social media has been brilliant, it's amazing what people can do when people come together," he said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to report it Sussex Police. The CAD Number is 551-13.06.2021.
