Soccer team saves player in cardiac arrest

Barwon Heads man Jon Phillips’ local soccer team work together to do more than just kick goals, with the group saving his life five months ago when Jon went into cardiac arrest on the pitch.

Jon, 54, has been part of the Barwon Heads Soccer Club for 16 years, and plays with the senior men’s team.

On 16 May, he was playing with his teammates when he left the pitch and told his coach Mark Rappa that he was having chest pains.

Mark quickly got two teammates Andrew Marriott and Kazunori Nakajima, who are also doctors, to attend to Jon while the club president, Bec Dalton called Triple Zero (000).

At that time, off-duty emergency doctor, Jean Moller was walking past and also came over to help, advising the group should bring the nearby automated external defibrillator (AED) over just in case.

Unfortunately, Jon then went into cardiac arrest with Jean, Andrew and bystander Carly Vanderzeil immediately starting the chain of survival.

Working together, they took turns administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and used the club’s AED to shock Jon twice before Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedics arrived.

Thanks to the outstanding efforts of the team and bystanders, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) had already been achieved when paramedics arrived on scene. The attending crews then managed Jon’s airways and administered medications to stabilise him, before he was extricated off the pitch and transported by road ambulance to Geelong University Hospital for treatment.

Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere, at any age, health or fitness level, and often without symptoms.

Every day, around 21 Victorians experience a cardiac arrest and only one in 10 survive.

When a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles.

Barwon Heads Soccer Club president Bec Dalton said the incident has reinforced how important publicly accessible defibs are in the community.

“This experience has really increased my awareness about the lifesaving impact a defib can have and has made me more aware of where they are within our area,” she said.

“We’re really thankful the club had the AED funded by the Barwon Heads Community Bank because Jon might not be here without it. I encourage all groups and businesses to look into getting an AED and for all individuals to know where your nearest device is located.”

This Shocktober, Jon, his teammates and bystanders reunited with the paramedics who responded to his case.

AV Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic Shannon Cefai said Jon is living proof of the impact public AED’s can have on patient outcomes.

“It’s fantastic to see Jon recovering so well and back with his teammates only five months on. It’s testament to the efforts of everyone who helped him that day,” he said.

“It’s cases like Jon’s that highlight the impact early bystander intervention can have on a patient’s health outcome and part of that is bystanders having quick access to lifesaving AED’s.

“Anyone can save a life, if you see someone unresponsive and in cardiac arrest, call Triple Zero (000), start compressions and push hard and fast in the middle of the chest, and if one is available, use a nearby AED to provide a shock before paramedics arrive.

“Victoria has the best cardiac survival rates in Australia and among the best in the world, and that’s because people are willing to jump in and deliver lifesaving care when it matters most.”

Jon said he will always be thankful for his club and community who have given him a second chance at life.

“I’m doing great now and that’s because everyone acted so quickly to help me,” he said.

“I owe my life to my teammates and hope others take this as their sign to learn CPR and know where their nearest AED is.”

AV is also encouraging everyone over 18 years old to sign up to the GoodSAM app, which connects patients in cardiac arrest with a nearby volunteer who is willing to start hands-only CPR in the crucial moments before paramedics arrive.

More than 17,300 Victorians are registered GoodSAM Responders – but we need more.

Find a list of AED’s in your area or register a device.

Resources on CPR available in multiple languages.