A Father’s Day Like No Other
September 4, 2023in Community News
A Healesville dad has been given the best Father’s Day gift of all, reuniting with the paramedics and first responders who saved his life.
Bryde McNamara was driving home from work the morning of June 18 when he suffered a cardiac arrest, just a few hundred metres from his house.
The 37-year-old ended up crashing through a fence and down a three-metre embankment into a building at Healesville High School.
His family heard the smash and rushed to help, with his son Kayden calling Triple Zero (000).
Bryde’s wife Jess started CPR, along with a bystander, which paramedics say played a big role in the father of three’s survival.
(L-R) Paramedic Joscelyn Roberts, paramedic Madeleine Cranmer, Jess McNamara,
Bryde McNamara, Kayden McNamara, paramedic Shaun Caulfield.
(Front) Charlie McNamara, Natasha McNamara.
Paramedics Joscelyn Roberts and Madeleine Cranmer were the first to arrive.
“When we saw the crash, we didn’t think it would be a good outcome,” Joscelyn said.
“His family were doing an incredible job performing CPR so we got them to continue, which was a massive help for us.”
Paramedics worked on Bryde for more than two hours as his body went into cardiac arrest another seven times.
An air ambulance was dispatched to the case, with Bryde requiring so much blood that another helicopter was called in.
Bryde was flown to The Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition.
The trauma surgeon at the hospital commended paramedics on their exceptional management of Bryde’s traumatic injuries, aiding to his survival.
After two weeks in hospital, Bryde was able to return home.
There were emotional scenes as Bryde and his family met with paramedics, CFA and SES members at the site of the accident for Father’s Day.
Cardiac arrest survivor Bryde McNamara with family and first responders.
“I have so much love for all of these people,” Jess said.
“We are so grateful that we still have him here. It’s such a blessing.”
Every day, about 20 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest and only one in 10 survive.
There are three simple steps to save someone’s life: Call (Call Triple 000), Push (Perform CPR) and Shock (use an AED if available).