Carlos Santos Shares His Defib Mission on BBC Points West

We were incredibly proud to see our friend Carlos Santos - a Bristol bus driver and passionate community advocate - featured on BBC Points West and the BBC News website this week, sharing the story behind a new defibrillator installation at Broad Quay in the heart of Bristol.

Carlos was moved to act after the tragic death of his friend and colleague, Richard Dewdney, who suffered a cardiac arrest at Broad Quay in December 2024 while waiting for his next shift. Despite the best efforts of critical care responders, Richard sadly passed away - and it was later discovered that no defibrillators were available nearby at the time.

Determined to prevent others from facing the same fate, Carlos and fellow drivers raised funds for a public defibrillator at the exact spot where Richard collapsed. First West of England kindly covered the remaining cost, and the unit - supplied by Defibs4Bristol through one of the final government-funded cabinets secured by Simon Brookes - was installed outside Turtle Bay, complete with a plaque in Richard’s memory. The defibrillator was accessed within just 12 hours of installation, when a nearby medical emergency prompted a member of

In the BBC Points West interview, Carlos is joined by a man who had suffered a cardiac arrest and whose life was saved thanks to bystanders stepping in to perform CPR and use the defibrillator. Hearing him share his experience alongside Carlos made for a powerful moment - living proof of the importance of public access defibs.

You can watch the full BBC Points West segment and see Carlos in action here:

Carlos also gives a demonstration of how to perform CPR and use the defibrillator, helping viewers understand just how simple and vital these actions can be. He also takes time in the segment to acknowledge Simon Brookes and Defibs4Bristol for helping bring the project to life.

Carlos, whose wife and son are also First Bus drivers in Bristol, is so passionate about helping to save lives in the city that earlier this year he set up BristolResus4All a not-for-profit organisation established to fundraise for more defibrillators and ensure they’re properly maintained and accessible across Bristol.

Carlos has also introduced us to other potential sites and continues to play a major role in Bristol’s expanding life-saving network. He’s a valued friend of Defibs4Bristol and someone we’re proud to stand beside.

To read more, see the BBC News article, where Carlos once again kindly references his work with Defibs4Bristol:

BBC News article

Carlos - thank you for your tireless efforts, your compassion, and your ability to turn tragedy into real, lasting impact for the people of Bristol.