A leading cardiologist says about 200 people die needlessly from heart attacks every year in New Zealand because there is no defibrillator nearby.
Wellington Free Ambulance says the device could have saved a man who died after suffering a cardiac arrest at Makara Peak on Sunday morning.
There are about 2500 of the devices throughout the country, but a doctor says four times as many are needed.
Harvey White from Auckland Hospital says New Zealand is lagging well behind other countries.
Defibrillators range from $1500 to $3000. Dr White said that is not much to save a life and businesses need to front up and buy the devices.
