Engineering at Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, who went on to co-found Heartsine. His work was backed up by clinical investigations and epidemiological studies in scientific papers, including an influential 1967 The Lancet article. With these developments, the Belfast treatment system, often known as the "Pantridge Plan", became adopted throughout the world by emergency medical services. The portable defibrillator became recognised as a key tool in first aid, and Pantridge's refinement of the automated external defibrillator (AED) allowed it to be used safely by members of the public. Although he was known worldwide as the "Father of Emergency Medicine", Frank Pantridge was less acclaimed in his own country, and was saddened that it took until 1990 for all front-line ambulances in the UK to be fitted with defibrillators. Honours and decorations Pantridge was awarded the Military Cross "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya in 1942". The citation read: In June 1969, he was appointed Officer of the Order of St. John (OStJ). He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1979 New Year Honours. The city of Lisburn commissioned a statue of Pantridge, which stands outside the council's offices at the Lagan Valley Island centre. A Blue Plaque to Pantridge was erected by the entrance to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast in 2021. Death Pantridge died aged 88 on Boxing Day 2004. He was unmarried. References 1916 births 2004 deaths Alumni of Queen's University Belfast People from Hillsborough, County Down Inventors from Northern Ireland Cardiologists from Northern Ireland Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Army Medical Corps officers British Army personnel of World War II World War II prisoners of war held by Japan British World War II prisoners of war People educated at Friends' School, Lisburn University of Michigan Medical School alumni Burma Railway prisoners