Everdrone drone-delivered AED used in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest response in Borås, Sweden

Incident in Borås, Sweden

An automated external defibrillator (AED) delivered by Everdrone’s drone system was used in response to an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest involving a man in his 60s in Borås, Sweden, on 19 July 2026.

The drone was dispatched as part of the Västra Götaland Region (VGR) standard emergency response and delivered the AED to the scene before the ambulance arrived. The man regained a pulse on site and was later treated in hospital.

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

How Everdrone’s AED drone system works

The drone flies autonomously to the emergency location and delivers the AED by lowering it on a winch from an altitude of around 30 metres. In suspected cardiac arrest incidents, the drone is automatically dispatched in parallel with the ambulance.

Following an emergency call, the drone was launched from its local base in Borås and delivered the AED directly to the location ahead of the ambulance. Bystanders immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and attached the AED with guidance and support from the emergency dispatcher.

The AED analysed the patient’s heart rhythm and a defibrillation shock was delivered. Subsequent medical care was provided by the ambulance service and other emergency responders.

“Every time our drone system is used in a real emergency, it reinforces the value of integrating drones into emergency medical services. The drone complements ambulances and other emergency resources by delivering life-saving equipment during the most critical minutes,” says Mats Sällström.

VGR emergency drone programme and DEMS operations

The response formed part of the Västra Götaland Region’s emergency drone programme, under which drones are automatically dispatched alongside ambulances for suspected cardiac arrests.

“Our system, Drone Emergency Medical Services (DEMS), is unique and currently operates in Sweden and France. This incident further demonstrates its potential to help save more lives, and we hope it increases awareness of drones as a valuable complement to emergency medical services,” says Mats Sällström.

The service is jointly operated by the Västra Götaland Region and Everdrone. Six operational drone bases provide coverage for more than 300,000 residents in the region as part of a long-term initiative to reduce the time to life-saving treatment for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The incident in Borås shows how drone technology can be integrated into routine emergency medical services.

Information from Everdrone