Man revived after heart attack

The 54-year-old man went into cardiac arrest shortly after 7am on February 28 on the footpath at south Mollymook Beach.

The man was found by members of the public, who alerted off duty Mollymook Surf Life Saving Club lifesavers. They immediately got to work, commencing CPR and preparing a defibrillator.

“They applied the defibrillator and with the continuation of CPR, the patient came back to life,” surf club captain Adam Woodward said. 

“Several lifesavers were involved. They all did a very very good job. 

”It was a very good outcome. He would be in a hell of a lot of trouble if he was walking in the middle of Mitchell Parade."

The man was taken to Milton Ulladulla Hospital before being airlifted by NSW Ambulance helicopter to Wollongong Hospital. 

“We was conscious, breathing and alert when he was being transported,” a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said. 

Mr Woodward said he had word from Wollongong Hospital that the man was “doing quite well”. 

“It was only the lifesavers getting there with early access, early CPR and early defibrillator that saved the gentleman,” she said. 

“Without the intervention of the off duty lifesavers it could have been a completely different outcome.

“If there ever is a good place to have a heart attack, it’s in front of a surf club.”

The lifesavers were more than likely training at the club when the incident happened, Mr Woodward said. 

“Lifesavers do a range of things at the club of a morning;, swimming or board training. I dare say that is what the members involved were doing,” he said.