Bride Commissioners say the village's public defibrillator was waiting for a battery change when it was found to be out of order.
The statement comes after a village resident posted on social media how she went to use the lifesaving device earlier this month, but found it hadn't been maintained since August.
It's now functioning again, but the commissioners say they've decided to still keep it out of service.
The local authority explained it will stay this way until government or another medical service takes responsibility for training volunteers and maintaining Island defibrillators, the unit will stay out of use.
Commissioners added the machine was bought with a donation from a member of the public, not a charity, and maintained by volunteers.
It says the decision was partly due to threats allegedly received by the volunteers and commissioners about the issue.
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