Sophie Kennard and Louise Jones: parents donate defibrillator in daughters' memory

Jeff Harland-Jones and Zoe Walker know each other through working in the funeral trade, but they have a sad fact in common.

Jeff, from Newhaven, lost his youngest daughter Louise Jones in 2008 when she was just 20 years old.

• SEE ALSO: 'Wrong tablets' led to fatal heart attack

Louise had suffered a heart attack after taking her boyfriend's medication to numb a crippling pain, having been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries.

A coroner ruled that the young care worker, who had "so many plans for her life", had died an accidental death.

Last year, Zoe's daughter Sophie Kennard was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the A27 when her car skidded across the wet road and hit the central reservation.

Louise Jones, left, and right, Sophie Kennard

The 24-year-old was a talented golf star, trained to professional standard, and was ladies champion at the Dyke Golf Club for four years running.

• SEE ALSO: Talented golfer Sophie Kennard killed in crash on A27

Zoe, from Portslade, has been taking Sophie's nephew Callum to Fishersgate Boxing Club in Carlton Terrace for the past two years, and "made it her mission" to help the club following Sophie's death, as something positive to focus on.

She said: "I was looking for something to do and I saw the club was in need of a defibrillator, as all boxing clubs need to have one on site as of next year.

"They're very expensive and can cost more than £1,500.

"I reached out to a couple of places with no luck when I saw Jeff put a post on Facebook about a week later, saying he had a defibrillator which needed a home.

"So I jumped at the chance - the stars aligned."

Jeff and Zoe with Zoe's grandson Callum, and bottom left, Steve Reed and his son Joe Reed, who run the club

Jeff had originally provided a defibrillator for the Searchlight centre for people with disabilities in Newhaven, where his daughter Louise had worked as a carer.

Jeff said: "When Louise died there was a memorial collection from her funeral and I thought we would put it to good use and fund a defibrillator at the care home where she worked.

"But the building was later knocked down and for nearly two years we could not find a home for it, when Zoe said she knew a place where it could go.

"She introduced me to the boxing club and now it's available for the community to use as well.

"I'm so pleased it is working again. They are so simple to use and they do save lives, so we thought that was fitting."

The defibrillator has been attached to the wall outside the club and has a plaque in memory of Louise and Sophie.

Jeff and Zoe

Jeff, who previously worked as a paramedic for 35 years, said he and Zoe had been able to help each other cope following their daughters' deaths.

He said: "Zoe and I were able to talk as when you talk to someone who has already been through it, it does help.

"We both lost them all of a sudden.

"Time does not heal but it does become more manageable. You will never forget about those people."

Joe Reed, who runs Fishersgate Boxing Club with his father Steve, said the club is "so grateful" to Zoe and Jeff for providing the life-saving heart defibrillator.

He said: "It's amazing - we are probably one of the first clubs in the area to get it done and it is there for the community as well.

"England Boxing has made it compulsory for all clubs to have one as of next year.

"We have people of all ages coming here, from six-year-olds to people in their 60s. Any of these others units can use it too and it has saved us thousands.

"We're so grateful."