Dad-to-be meets his PTS lifesavers

Jindalee’s then Dad‑to‑be Peter Millatt may never have had the opportunity to meet his baby boy if it wasn’t for the speedy response of QAS’s Centenary PTS team in June.

Peter, 34, was in the shower early on Thursday 17 June when he went into cardiac arrest.

Quick thinking, with CPR from his then 24‑weeks pregnant wife Samantha, along with a house guest and a neighbour, combined with a fast response from the PTS crew ensured Peter survived.

In early September Peter and his wife Samantha visited the Centenary Station armed with some homemade cupcakes to thank some of the team who saved him – PTS Officer Marie Sutcliffe, Paramedic Jason (Daisy) Sondorp, and CCP Hannah Gaulke from Nathan Station.

“It’s a bit weird for me, I have to admit I have absolutely no memory of any of it thankfully,” Peter laughed. “But I’m really glad I’m alive as I’d like to meet our son when he arrives.”

Top - QAS PTS Officer Marie Sutcliffe, Samantha and Peter Millatt, Paramedic Jason Sondorp and CCP Hannah Gaulke. Above - Peter and Sam with baby Robert.

Centenary PTS crew member and Paramedic Jason (Daisy) Sondorp said he and partner Marie had been on their way to a transport pick‑up, but when the call came through, they changed course as they were close by.

“It was more of a case of us being in the right spot at the right time – we got there in 10 minutes and worked on him until other teams arrived,” Jason said.

“It was great to see everyone in the house had been doing CPR on Peter before we arrived and that helped a lot.

“Peter was my youngest arrest, and this is the first time in my 20 years working I’ve met someone I’ve saved – it’s just the best thing to see him standing here with Sam today.”

Marie said she was “stoked” to meet Peter and to see Sam again in a much more relaxed setting.

“It’s so good to be able to know the outcomes for people when you’ve treated them,” she said.

“It’s lovely to be able to see Peter’s face with its much healthier colour, and we didn’t know he wore glasses either!”

Peter joked with the team about his waking moments in hospital. “All I wanted to know was where my glasses were and who had taken my pants,” he said.

He left hospital a week later, after a second arrest in hospital the same day, with only several broken ribs and with an internal defibrillator installed after being found with undiagnosed Prolonged QT Syndrome, and returned to work a fortnight later.

Peter’s wife Sam, a teacher, said that morning she lived out her worst nightmare in slow motion.

“Part of me is super proud,” she said. “I had learnt CPR previously a few times, but even so, I’m really proud of all of our efforts – we don’t have the medical skills these lovely paramedics have, but we managed to keep him alive until they arrived.

“The hospital was super impressed too – they said he was one in 1,000 as he’s now fine and his brain is also absolutely fine.”

QAS congratulates Sam and Peter after the birth of their baby boy Robert, born on 20 September – a very lucky boy indeed!

Sam presents Jason (Daisy) Sondorp with some cupcakes.