Quick action and a defibrillator save a firefighter

 

A CFA volunteer has had the opportunity to say thank you to fellow volunteers and paramedics who helped save his life.

 

John Moyes, a volunteer with Yarragon Fire Brigade, suffered a cardiac arrest while responding to a grass and scrub fire on Tuesday 4 March 2025 in Yarragon.

Shortly after arriving at the scene, John collapsed.

Crews from Trafalgar were on scene battling the blaze and Commander Greg Fisher said he immediately snapped into action.

"We had to fight the fire, but we also needed to help John," he said.

"Thankfully, our members are first-aid trained, and we were able to quickly begin doing what we needed to do."

Immediately following contact with Triple Zero (000), Trafalgar Fire Brigade members, Sally Neenan, Colin Proctor, and Danny Mynard, got to work on John, starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and attaching an automated external defibrillator (AED) from one of the trucks.

"It was all a bit of a blur," Danny said.

"But my training kicked in and I just did what I had to do to help save John."

Sally said John collapsed behind her and having just refreshed her CPR knowledge just months before, she was able to help save John.

“It was daunting but it really drives home the importance of having your first-aid and CPR training even if you’re just a member of the community. This could have happened anywhere,” she said.

Colin said having an AED was a huge help to their CPR efforts.

“We were really glad to have the defibrillator right there on the truck,” he said.

The trio continued CPR, delivering three shocks with the AED prior to the arrival of Ambulance Victoria paramedics. At the time of handover, John remained pulseless and unconscious.

Paramedics took over care, intubated John and placed him into an induced coma. He was transported in a critical condition to the Victorian Heart Hospital for specialist care.

John said he was "forever indebted" to those who intervened early and saved his life.

"They are the reason I am here," John said.

"Because they knew what to do, I have another chance."

Greg said the incident was a good reminder about the importance of early intervention, having AEDs on trucks, and completing first-aid training with CFA.

"We offer basic first aid and CPR training to all CFA members and this really showed us why this training is so important," Greg said.

"Our members do more than just fight fires; they are there to help their communities in so many different situations.

"All CFA primary firefighting appliances are also fitted with AEDs which is an amazing resource.”

Ambulance Victoria Gippsland Clinical Support Officer Dion Meade said John’s recovery was testament to the quick actions of those around him.

“It’s fantastic to see John alive and doing so well, which is all because of his peers who immediately started the chain of survival by implementing Call, Push, Shock,” he said.

“We know the significant impact of early intervention, with a patient’s chance of survival almost doubling when they receive CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive.

“The Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry 2023-24 showed Victoria has Australia’s best cardiac survival rate and the third best in the world, which is because of people, like Sally, Colin and Danny, stepping in when they see someone in cardiac arrest.

“Anyone can save a life by remembering to Call Triple Zero 000, give CPR by pushing hard and fast on the middle of the chest, and use an AED if available.”

Additional resources:

Read a list of registered AEDs in Victoria.

Call, Push, Shock resources are available in multiple languages on the Ambulance Victoria website.

Learn more in the Victorian Ambulance Cardiac Arrest Registry Annual Report.

 

Submitted by	CFA Media