Team effort brings back grandfather
January 22, 2025in News
After surviving a cardiac arrest last year, Inverloch grandfather John McLennan, 75, was determined to reclaim his health and, just four months later, he’s celebrating a remarkable recovery.
On 1 September, John started feeling unwell before suddenly becoming unresponsive. Within seconds he was found by his wife, Pam.
Pam said she immediately knew something terrible had happened and time was of the essence.
“I called Triple Zero (000) and immediately started pumping his chest,” she said.
While Pam had an automated external defibrillator (AED) at home, she was hesitant to stop compressions to retrieve it.
However, while on the phone with Triple Zero, she was surprised by the doorbell and the arrival of more help.
Within minutes, two GoodSAM responders, Luisa and Kathryn, were on scene assisting with compressions and retrieving the AED which they used to shock John twice before paramedics arrived.
Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedics then arrived and took over before transporting John to the Victorian Heart Hospital.
Miraculously, John was out of the intensive care unit (ICU) in only 24 hours.
He remained at the hospital for 10 days and underwent surgery to insert stents and a pacemaker into his chest before returning home.
(L-R) GoodSAM responders Kathryn Croatto and Luisa Corrigan, patient John McLennan, and paramedics Bonnie Fitzpatrick and Gemma Weeks.
John said the incident was completely unexpected as he had only recently had his health checked.
“Pam and I walk most days and I play golf multiple times a week,” he said.
“I am healthy and fit, so it came out of the blue.”
Pam said it was one of the most terrifying moments of her life.
“I wasn’t convinced he’d make it because he was down for a good half hour,” she said.
“Luckily, I’d done a CPR course a couple of years ago and then purchased the defibrillator.
“I don’t think I can express my relief when those paramedics arrived. They worked very hard on him.
“Once he got out of ICU, I felt relief and each day I saw improvement in his condition.”
In January, John and Pam reunited with the paramedics and GoodSAM responders who came to their aid that day.
Luisa Corrigan has been a GoodSAM responder for three years and was able to use her CPR skills from being a cardiac physiologist at The Alfred hospital to help John.
“I live around the corner so was able to respond very quickly when I received the alert,” she said.
“I located the AED and we all took turns doing compressions until emergency services arrived.
“It feels so good to give something back and know you helped give someone a second chance.”
Kathryn Croatto was also nearby when she received the GoodSAM alert and raced over to help.
A coronary care nurse at Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kathryn signed up to the app a couple years ago, but John was the first patient she had assisted.
“When I got there, Luisa had located the AED. We continued the CPR from Pam and followed the prompts to deliver two shocks to John before the ambulance arrived,” she said.
“I have seen people survive, and the ones that do the best have had early CPR and defibrillation.
“For John to have had a defibrillator in his home is amazing and to have a positive outcome from this is really healing.”
John McLennan (centre) was happy to reunite with paramedics Bonnie Fitzpatrick (left) and Gemma Weeks (right).
AV Paramedic Bonnie Fitzpatrick said without the quick response from Pam and the GoodSAM responders, John might not be alive today.
“When on the way to a cardiac arrest case like John’s we never know what situation we’ll walk in to and whether there will be a good outcome,” she said.
“The GoodSAM responders and Pam did such a fantastic job giving CPR and delivering two shocks from the AED, that John was breathing when we arrived.
“It really shows how much of a difference bystander intervention makes and why everyone should learn how to do CPR. You never know when you might need it.”
Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, the grandfather of eight has returned to normal life.
“There were a number of things that lined up that day and that’s why John is still here. We are forever grateful to the GoodSAMs and paramedics for their prompt attendance and efficient and effective actions.” Pam said.
Inverloch was part of a pilot for the Heart Safe Communities initiative. The program aims to improve cardiac arrest survival rates by teaching community members how to perform CPR and use an AED.