Bowlers band together to save fellow player’s life

Geelong man, Richard Sinclair is alive today thanks to the quick actions of others, after a cardiac arrest while playing lawn bowls almost took his life in June.

A regular Saturday bowls game at the Geelong Bowls Club took a dramatic turn when Richard collapsed on the green.

Luckily, fellow players were quick to rush to his side and initiate the chain of survival, using the three simple steps of Call, Push, Shock to get Richard the help he needed.

Working as a team, the bystanders each took on a lifesaving role, including calling Triple Zero (000), starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), retrieving a nearby automated external defibrillator (AED) and waiting outside to flag down the ambulance.

But the response didn’t stop there, with Matt, a nearby Ambulance Victoria (AV) Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedic on his way into work, also responding to the case after being alerted through the GoodSAM app.

GoodSAM is a mobile app that connects patients in cardiac arrest with a nearby volunteer who is willing to start hands-only CPR while paramedics are on their way.

Matt arrived on scene and supported the other bowlers who were already delivering outstanding bystander intervention, including effective CPR and administering one shock from the club’s AED prior to paramedics arriving.

Within minutes, both Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) firefighters, Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics and MICA paramedics were on scene.

Thanks to the efforts of the bystanders, paramedics were able to achieve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), stabilise Richard, and transport him to University Hospital Geelong.

This October marks the sixth year of the state-wide Shocktober campaign, which is dedicated to improving cardiac arrest survival rates.

As part of Shocktober, Richard and the bystanders who helped to save him reunited with the first responders who came to their aid four months ago.

“I’m extremely grateful that I was around people who knew what to do, they saved my life,” he said.

“I think everyone should learn CPR and where their nearest defibrillator is located. You never know when you might need it, and it could save someone.”

AV Acting Operations Community Engagement Coordinator Sara Hadden said around 21 Victorians experience a cardiac arrest every day, but only one in 10 survive.

“A cardiac arrest occurs when a person’s heart suddenly stops pumping blood effectively around the body. It can happen to anyone, at any time, regardless of age or fitness level,” she said.

“Richard’s outcome reinforces how critical CPR and defibrillation are in the minutes before paramedics arrive on scene. It’s because of those early actions that he’s alive today and back on the green.

“Our message is simple – you don’t need to be a paramedic to save a life, just remember to Call (Triple Zero 000), Push (Perform CPR) and Shock (use an AED).”

AV is also calling on all Victorians to know where your nearest publicly accessible AED is located and to sign up to the GoodSAM app.

Last year, AV paramedics and first responders were called to 7,545 cardiac arrest patients. Victoria has the best cardiac survival rates in Australia and is the third best in the world.

Resources on CPR in multiple languages.