Ambulance staff from across the UK and beyond have been greatly saddened to hear of the sudden death of Declan Heneghan, the Publisher and Editor of industry magazine Ambulance Today, who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on 28th November 2018 at the age of just 53.
Anthony Marsh QAM, Chair of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) said:
Through his work as the publisher of Ambulance Today magazine for many years, Declan developed many friends and colleagues throughout ambulance services both here and abroad, including myself.
His sudden death has come as a great shock to us all in the ambulance community and we respectfully convey our most sincere sympathies to his family at this difficult time.
Over many years Declan built up an impressive lists of contacts with ambulance leaders both across the UK and further afield. His recent work in Europe, USA, South America, Israel and Australasia (New Zealand in particular) highlighted his energy and determination to share ambulance stories worldwide.
Steve Irving, Executive Officer at AACE, said:
His work ethic was very determined and when Declan wanted to speak with you it was hard to say no. He was dogged, well informed, tenacious and absolutely dedicated to connecting all those interested in ambulance and EMS services.
He will leave a unique Declan shaped void that won’t be easily filled. It may be a cliché but he was definitely one of a kind and will be greatly missed.
Carl Rees, Media and Communications Consultant to AACE and Stakeholder Engagement Lead at NARU, worked with Declan for many years and said:
It is extremely sad to know that Declan has died aged just 53 and I will miss his friendship and camaraderie during our regular phone conversations. Declan worked long hours developing his magazine and website and I understand he had been working hard on the forthcoming edition of Ambulance Today when he died.
He was a unique person with a thorough commitment to the ambulance service and the people who work within it and he will be sadly missed.
A special section will be included in the December edition of Ambulance Today as a tribute to Declan. Those wishing to send messages of condolence to Joseph, Declan’s son, can do so via editorial.ambtoday@gmail.com.
