DAMIEN Parker of Boat Harbour alongside his colleague Brad Dives were awarded the Victor Chang Foundation Heart Of Gold Medal this week, for the resuscitation of Alan Gore.
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Last year Damien who is a fireman was driving back from a callout he was literally run off the road by a desperate woman, her husband was having a heart attack in their car.
Damien stopped his Hazmat vehicle and commenced CPR on Alan while he was still in the car.
Damien realised that he had to not only move Alan onto the ground but to get urgent help.
He stopped CPR dragged Alan from the vehicle onto the grass and radioed the rest of the fire crew who had not stopped.
The crew returned to the scene where Brad Dives leapt from the vehicle with a defibrillator.
They used the defibrillator to shock Alan three times before the paramedics arrived.
The pair were joined by two off duty intensive care nurses, from nearby John Hunter Hospital, their combined efforts saving Alan’s life.
Damien Parker told News Of The Area, “Every situation is different we travel in a team, and this was the first time I had to put my training into action.”
At the awards Damien heard the story of Alan’s long road to recovery.
“It was sad to hear his story, he lost all his short term memory.”
Alan who was in a coma for a month, is now back at work, after having to relearn skills that many of us take for granted as adults.
“It was great to hear that he is now really living life to the full every day,” he said.
Deputy Director, Professor Richard Harvey said the Victor Chang Heart of Gold Awards raise awareness of heart disease and highlight the vital role the community plays in saving someone’s life, particularly in the home.
“Home is where the heart stops!
“Each and every one of us needs to learn the symptoms of a heart attack or cardiac arrest and know how to perform effective CPR.
“If it wasn’t for the courage, strength and composure displayed by these very worthy award winners, more lives could have been lost,” Professor Harvey added.
The Hazmat vehicle has since been fitted with a defibrillator.
By Marian SAMPSON
