From heart stopping to heart-warming: Paramedics reunite with cardiac arrest patient

Paramedics don’t often see their patients’ outcomes, let alone enjoy a rare win from a serious cardiac arrest.

For paramedics Tom, Sophie, Jacob and Stu, a catch up with former patient Brett Cox was a very special opportunity.

On 10 January 2022 the team responded to reports of a 72-yearold male who had collapsed while playing with his grandsons at his Redcliffe home.

Twelve-year-old Taj had grabbed his Nanny’s phone and dialled Triple Zero (000) for her before running to get help with his younger brother Hamish.

Their neighbour, Paul, was CPR trained. He rushed over and started compressions immediately.

The boys ran out to wave down the ambulance, but by the time paramedics got to him Brett’s heart had stopped. They continued CPR and delivered two shocks.

Incredibly, Brett regained a heartbeat.

Fast forward to today, Brett now has an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and has made a full recovery.

The crew reunited with Brett and his family a month after the incident to present grandsons Taj and Hamish with Bravery Awards.

“It was wonderful to see them all in good spirits and I felt very pleased to have been a part of a major success story for excellent patient outcomes,” Jacob said.

“The job was very special to me as unfortunately most cardiac arrests we attend to don’t have favourable outcomes.”

The team say if it wasn’t for the quick-thinking actions of his grandsons, wife, and neighbours it could have been a very different story for Brett.

The family and their neighbour Paul also thanked the paramedics for helping to save Brett’s life in an emotional reunion.

Paul said he hadn’t been able to talk about the incident since the night it happened and was happy to now enjoy a beer with his Brett, under less stressful circumstances.

Brett’s story is a very timely remind to the public to brush up on their CPR skills - you never know when it could save a family member’s, or neighbour’s, life.

Brett now has an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator.

Paramedics presented Taj and Hamish with Bravery Awards.

Paramedics Jacob, Sophie, Stu and Tom with Brett and his grandsons Taj and Hamish.