Lifeguards’ CPR saves life after man collapses at TSB Nationals

Pictured from left, Samuel Teteina, from Bethells Beach Surf Life Saving Patrol, Georgia Eldridge, from Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services, Phoebe Havill from Onemana Surf Life Saving Club, Kenjiro Takano from Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club, and Luke Jennings from Bethells Beach Surf Life Saving Patrol were part of the first aid team at TSB Nationals. 
Luke, Georgia and Kenji were among those that helped resuscitate a competitor, along with Dr Andrew Vine from Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Jill Barron and Jan Campbell from Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service, Roydon Woodcock from Orewa Surf Life Saving Club and James Lloyd from Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services.

By Murray Robertson, Gisborne Herald

Immediate and effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) averted tragedy at the TSB New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships on March 12 when a competitor in the Masters events collapsed on the beach.

Lifeguards in the immediate vicinity, including doctors and nurses, sprang into action and began CPR on the man, who had suffered a heart event.

They used an AED (portable defibrillator) to restart the man’s heart, and saved his life.

The man, in his early 50s, is from the Bay of Plenty.

He had just finished the surf race when he collapsed.

A St John officer who attended said the lifeguards did a good job.

“What they did was impressive. The survival rate from cardiac arrests like that is not great.

“Quick CPR and a shock made the difference for the man,” he said.

“The lifeguards used the AED once and got an immediate response, which proves the effectiveness of both the lifeguards and the right equipment like an AED.”

Phoebe Havill, Onemana Surf Life Saving Club, left, James Lloyd and Georgia Eldridge, both from Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services,
were at the TSB Nationals. James and Georgia were among those involved in the resuscitation of a Masters competitor.

The man had been revived and was semi-conscious by the time the ambulance crew arrived at the beach.

“His condition was improving all the time,” the ambulance officer said.

The man was put on to a back board and carried off the beach to the waiting ambulance and he was then taken to Gisborne Hospital.

The hospital has reported him to be in a stable condition.

Event manager Scott Bicknell said he was “incredibly proud of the response from our members and the event safety crew”.

“We understand the lifeguard who had the medical event is recovering well, and our thoughts go out to him, to his family, and his club.”

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This article was written by Murray Robertson and was originally published by the Gisborne Herald.

For more information, please contact: 

Melanie Louden
Media and Communications Manager
Surf Life Saving NZ
021 757 433
melanie.louden@surflifesaving.org.nz