The Brighton i360 is ready for lift off – or at least that’s how it looks in a picture that has echoes of an Apollo mission leaving the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.
The sunrise picture – by Hove resident Chris Girvan – has been shared on social media this week.
Days earlier volunteers from the Sussex Heart Charity and Hove Business Association donated a life-saving heart defibrillator to the seafront site.
Hove Business Association chair Jill Humphrey said: “After a year of fundraising Hove Business Association are extremely proud, in conjunction with the Sussex Heart Charity, to be able to provide an AED (automated external defibrillator) in such a prominent public area.
“Those first few minutes following a cardiac arrest are vital and the use of an AED can be the difference between life and death.
“To have one in such a public place with thousands of visitors is of huge benefit.”
“One of our own team knows exactly what she means: ‘I know from hard experience the importance of having an AED nearby. My father’s life was saved by quick-thinking staff and the use of a defibrillator at his local gym after he suffered a cardiac arrest. Without it, we would have suffered a devastating loss.’
“The defibrillator is operated on a self-service basis and has simple instructions on the device so that anyone can operate it.”
Brighton i360 chief executive Eleanor Harris said: “We are very grateful to Hove Business Association and the Sussex Heart Charity for their kind gift.
“We hope that it will help to save lives on the seafront and can be used by both the i360 and surrounding businesses as well as the public.
“We take very seriously our role in the safety of seafront visitors, especially in light of the increasing tourist numbers in the city.”
The defibrillator has been installed on a hoarding at the south east corner of the Brighton i360 site during the construction phase. It will move to the beach building after the attraction opens next year.
Local businesses in the arches and at bottom of Preston Street will also benefit from the device being at this location, the Brighton i360 said.
The nearest defibrillator is at the Palace Pier, which is several minutes away from the new tower.
Toni Manuel, from the Brighton and Hove City Council seafront team, said: “It’s great to see another defibrillator on the seafront and one which the public can use too.
“We currently have three defibrillators at the Brighton Seafront Office which our staff use.
“These are then distributed to Brighton, Hove and the Deans (Rottingdean, Saltdean and Ovingdean) over the summer.
“Our Seafront Team are first responders to 999 ambulance calls on the seafront and with the quad bikes we can get to the i360 in a few minutes.”
