Multiagency rescue saves bushwalker suffering cardiac arrest

November 3, 2023 | in News

An avid bushwalker is lucky to be alive after suffering a cardiac arrest in Buninyong Reserve in January this year.

Fifty-four-year-old Michael Mai was bushwalking when he collapsed. His wife called Triple Zero (000) and kick-started a mammoth multiagency rescue operation.

First responders from Victoria State Emergency Service (SES), Country Fire Authority (CFA),
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), and Victoria Police responded to the rescue operation.

Local GoodSAM Responder Pete Ryan was at home when he received an alert notifying him of the unfolding emergency.

He and his partner, Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedic Mel Buckingham, immediately jumped into action.

“We drove to the top of the mountain as per the GoodSAM directions,” Pete said.

AV paramedics arrived on-scene along with GoodSAM Responders Pete and Mel.

Pete and the paramedics continued the rescue operation by traversing down the single-file walking track to locate Michael.

Michael (red jacket) with GoodSAM Responder Pete (grey jacket) and AV Paramedics.

“We made our way along the walking track within the reserve and found him unresponsive on the walking trail,” Pete said.

“A family member was doing CPR, so I jumped in and continued doing compressions.”

With the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), paramedics administered two shocks before two mobile intensive care paramedics arrived.

However, the rescue effort was far from over and the focus shifted to transporting Michael out of the reserve and into the safety of the waiting ambulance.

First Responders helping extricate Michael down the mountain.

First responders from Victoria State Emergency Service (SES), Country Fire Authority (CFA), Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV), and Victoria Police responded to the rescue operation.

“I was so focused on Michael that by the time I looked up again, I saw there was a sea of orange – the SES had arrived, alongside other agencies,” Pete said.

An AV HEMS helicopter hovered above the mountain, accessing the possibility of winching Michael out, but it was decided the safest way to extricate was to load him onto an SES mule (all terrain rescue stretcher) and wheel him down the mountain.

“Everyone was working together to try and get Michael out as safely as possible,” Pete said.

“SES crews were cutting down logs and fallen trees out of the way to help clear a path.

“We had to occasionally lift the mule to get Michael over a few logs that couldn’t be moved. It was a real effort.”

Michael (red jacket) and his family and GoodSAM Responder Pete (grey jacket)
with First Responders.

Michael was grateful for the first responders that saved his life.

“There were a lot of people involved, and I’m grateful to see them and say thanks face-to-face,” Michael said.

With the help of GoodSAM Responder Pete, AV Paramedics, SES, CFA, FRV, and Victoria Police, Michael was extricated from the reserve and taken to a waiting ambulance where he was transported to Ballarat Hospital.

Michael has since made a full recovery and has recently reunited with GoodSAM Responder Pete, AV paramedics, and other first responders who came to his aid.

GoodSAM is a life-saving smartphone app that connects Victorians in cardiac arrest with members of the community who are willing to perform CPR in the critical minutes before paramedics arrive.

About GoodSAM:

There are currently more than 12,000 GoodSAM Responders across the state, but we need more.
Anyone who knows hands-only CPR can save a life by becoming a GoodSAM Responder today.
You don’t have to have to be first-aid qualified or have a medical background, you just need to be willing and able to do hands-only CPR, be over 18 years of age and have access to a smartphone.
You will only receive an alert if you are nearby to the person in cardiac arrest. If you accept the alert, you will be given the address of the patient, along with the location of the closest defibrillator (if one is available), so you can begin lifesaving care while an ambulance is on the way.

Accepting a GoodSAM alert is voluntary as there are many reasons why you may not be able to respond. You can simply reject the alert and GoodSAM will then seek to notify the next closest GoodSAM Responder.