Our Story

September 2010: Piha Beach

Carl McIntyre, founder and Director of AED NZ, has a very special connection with ZOLL AEDs and cardiac equipment.

An avid surfer and outdoors enthusiast, Carl was surfing at Piha Beach, west of Auckland, one afternoon in September 2010 when he began to feel a tight pain in his chest. Having been diagnosed with heart disease in 2007, Carl quickly realised he was heading into cardiac arrest. After swimming back to shore and making his way to the top of the Waitakeres, Carl collapsed outside a cafe, where an ambulance was called.

As the ambulance arrived, Carl entered full ventricular fibrillation (VF) arrest. The ambulance staff quickly administered a defibrillator and Carl was resuscitated, though he was not yet out of danger. He was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.

The question that started a company

After recovering from surgery, Carl spoke to his cardiac surgeon, who suggested he should invest in a personal automated external defibrillator. Carl researched the available products and brands, and chose ZOLL.

"I chose ZOLL over other brands as the ZOLL devices are the only ones in the world which feature Real CPR feedback and assistance, allowing my family an easy to use device should they need to use it. They also have the lowest operating costs of any device and were invented by Dr Paul Zoll, a world renowned cardiologist."

Since then, Carl has taken part in conferences and speaking engagements about his experience, and is constantly asked the same question: "Where can I get one?"

So Carl got in touch with the people at ZOLL and started AED NZ as a New Zealand distributor of ZOLL AED products, training and equipment. AED NZ has been in partnership with ZOLL Medical Corporation since 2011.

What that means for you

Every recommendation we make is shaped by lived experience. Carl knows exactly what it takes for a bystander to save a life, because bystanders and a defibrillator saved his. That is why:

• We only sell ZOLL, the brand Carl trusted with his own family's readiness. Read why we choose ZOLL.
• We give straight answers about what your workplace, club or community actually needs, with no upselling.
• We support you long after the sale with consumables, training and advice.

AED NZ has since supplied defibrillators to NZ Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, the NZ Defence Force, hospitals, schools, sports clubs and hundreds of businesses across the country. See who we work with.

Carl continues to attend speaking engagements. If you are interested in having him share his experience with your organisation, get in touch with us here.