A GRIEVING family of a man who died playing football in Halesowen have raised enough money to donate eight defibrillators to leisure facilities in his memory.

Egidio (Eddie) Pulisciano, aged 65, was playing football at Leasowes Sports Centre, last October, when he suffered a cardiac arrest a few minutes into the game.

A West Midlands Ambulance spokesman said despite “excellent” bystander CPR and a “swift” response by the ambulance service, he died.

His daughter Adele Pogmore, son Adriano Pulisciano and wife Ann Pulisciano, decided to raise money to buy a defibrillator for Leasowes but when donations topped £8,000 they were overwhelmed.

Mrs Pogmore, aged 34, from Bournville, said: “Mum had the idea to raise money for a defib for Leasowes, where dad died.

“We used Facebook to ask for donations instead of flowers for his funeral and from one post we went from nothing to over £8,000.

“We didn’t expect the generosity we received and it’s been humbling to know that people cared so much that they wanted to donate money in dad’s memory.”

She contacted the ambulance trust which helped the family buy the defibrillators which have also gone to Lea Marston Hotel and Golf, Harborne Golf Club, Wishaw Cricket Club, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston Reservoir and Sutton Park, Futsall five-a-side in Birmingham.

Mr Pulisciano’s nephews also organised a successful five-a-side football tournament to raise some of the money, which they plan to repeat annually.