Drone-delivered defibrillator helps save cardiac arrest patient in Sweden

A drone-delivered automated external defibrillator (AED) played a key role in the successful resuscitation of a man who suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Borås, Sweden, highlighting the growing role of drones in emergency medical response.

The incident occurred on 19 July 2026, when an Everdrone drone was automatically dispatched alongside an ambulance as part of the Västra Götaland Region’s emergency response system. The drone arrived at the scene before the ambulance, lowering an AED to bystanders using a winch from an altitude of around 30 metres.

With guidance from Sweden’s emergency dispatch centre, bystanders immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and applied the AED, which analysed the patient’s heart rhythm and delivered a life-saving shock. The man regained a pulse before being transported to hospital by ambulance.

“In cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the first few minutes are critical,” said Mats Sällström, Chief Executive Officer of Everdrone. “Our drone system helps healthcare providers get an AED to the scene as early as possible, giving the patient the best possible chance of survival.”

The response forms part of Drone Emergency Medical Services (DEMS), a programme jointly operated by Everdrone and the Västra Götaland Region. The autonomous drones are dispatched automatically to suspected cardiac arrests, complementing traditional emergency services by delivering life-saving equipment during the crucial first minutes before paramedics arrive.

Everdrone currently operates six drone bases across the region, providing coverage for more than 300,000 residents. In addition to delivering defibrillators, the drones can provide aerial situational awareness to emergency responders.

The DEMS system has been developed through a research collaboration launched in 2019 between Everdrone, the Västra Götaland Region and the Karolinska Institutet. It is currently operational in Sweden and France, with a further deployment planned in the Stockholm Region later this year.

The successful intervention in Borås adds to growing evidence that integrating autonomous drones into emergency medical services can significantly reduce response times and improve survival prospects for victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.