A British woman whose husband died suddenly while working in Lanzarote has launched a fundraising campaign to install defibrillators and provide emergency first-aid training on the island.

Patricia Barlett was recovering from major surgery in a Gran Canaria hospital when her husband, Stuart, collapsed at work. She remained on the telephone as emergency workers tried to save his life in Lanzarote.

The couple had lived in Lanzarote for several years and ran businesses there. Patricia had been admitted to hospital in Gran Canaria after suffering a serious bowel perforation and was undergoing surgery to fit a colostomy bag.

Stuart supported his wife throughout her illness but had returned to Lanzarote to manage their businesses. The couple remained in contact while Patricia continued her recovery.

After Stuart stopped answering her calls, Patricia received a call from one of his customers informing her that he had collapsed. Medical teams carried out resuscitation attempts for 45 minutes but were unable to save him.

A post-mortem examination later found that Stuart had suffered a heart attack caused by underlying heart disease. His funeral was held at a church in Lanzarote several days later.

Patricia has now established Stuart’s Prevention Plan to raise money for defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. She believes quicker access to a defibrillator might have given her husband a better chance of survival.

Defibrillators can deliver a controlled electric shock during some cardiac emergencies, while early resuscitation can help maintain blood flow until professional assistance arrives.