September 10th, 2023Cardiac arrest survivor’s tearful reunion with life-savers

A father who suffered a cardiac arrest while driving home from work a few months ago has in recent days reunited with the emergency services responders who saved his life.

On 18 June, Bryde McNamara was only a few hundred metres away from his home when he suffered a cardiac arrest and veered off the road, down a three-metre embankment and into a building at Healesville High School.

His family heard the crash and rushed to help, with his son Kayden calling Triple Zero (000).

Bryde’s wife Jess and a bystander started CPR before paramedics arrived on scene.

Healesville Fire Brigade volunteer Graeme Bates said the CFA crew arrived on scene shortly after Ambulance Victoria and they assisted paramedics with CPR and the medical response.

“The school oval was a great resource for the Ambulance Victoria helicopters. They were delivering blood and I was assisting pumping the blood into Bryde,” Graeme said.

“SES and CFA worked together to secure the wall of the building so the bricks wouldn’t collapse.

“There was a lot happening and it was a great multi-agency effort.

“It’s rare for someone in this situation to survive so he was lucky to have age on his side and a quick response by family and emergency services.”

Bryde and his family met with his first responders last Sunday on Father’s Day which was an emotional reunion. The whole family expressed their heartfelt gratitude.