The cost of a St John automatic external defibrillator (AED), including a servicing/maintenance package, ranges between $3000 and $3500, including GST. Photo / File
The police are investigating the theft of a defibrillator from Mount Maunganui Sports Club on Monday night.
The lifesaving device was reported stolen from outside the club at Blake Park about 10.43pm, police said.
Club manager Kelly Brenton said the defibrillator was donated in 2015 by Legacy Trust and was kept at the entrance of the club.
"It's for our club members but also the wider community."
A code was needed to access the box it was held in.
On Monday night someone broke into the box and stole the defibrillator, Brenton said.
The club maintained the device with help from the Red Cross.
"Red Cross has told us ... they've only ever had one stolen," Brenton said.
She said it was a shame not to have it for the benefit of the community any more.
Yesterday the Bay of Plenty Times published a story about 59-year-old Tauranga man Grant Louie, who suffered a cardiac arrest mid-serve at the Gate Pa Tennis Club and was saved by his clubmates who performed CPR and used a defibrillator.
Read more: 'He went down like a sack of potatoes': Gate Pa tennis clubmates save tennis player's life
The cost of a St John automatic external defibrillator (AED), including a servicing/maintenance package, ranges between $3000 and $3500, including GST.
Two big business donations capped off the six-week fundraising drive.