Emotional catch-up for radio great Rex Leverington and good Samaritan

An SA broadcasting legend’s search for a good Samaritan who jumped into action to save his life has ended with an emotional catch up.

Radio legend Rex Leverington has met the good Samaritan who saved his life just a few weeks ago in an emotional reunion on Friday afternoon.

Sunday Mail readers will remember how Leverington survived a heart attack in the middle of Grote St at the start of February thanks to the quick actions of the well meaning passer-by.

Turns out that passer-by was 48-year old Andrew Hill who happened to be walking past when he noticed Leverington and his friend Frank Sebastyan.

“I was actually walking home from the gym and heard this thud and turned around to see Rex on the ground,” said Mr Hill, who coincidentally once studied to be a nurse.

Rex Leverington and Andrew Hill, who helped Rex when he had a heart attack in the street. Picture: Frank Sebastyan

“Because of my background I did know I would be able to help in some way so I got Rex on to his side and cleared his airways before the ambulance arrived.”

The former radio identity, who through his long career had appeared on stations 5DN, 5KA, 5AD and 5AA, was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and had a pacemaker put in that night.

Although, he’s on the road to recovery Leverington couldn’t wait to meet the man he calls a hero and treat him to lunch at Luigi’s.

“I really wanted to find out who he was so I could take him out to a big lunch and say thank you for saving my life. How many people get the opportunity to be able to do that,” Leverington said.

Frank Sebastyan, Rex Leverington, Luigi Di Costanzo and Andrew Hill at Luigi’s in Adelaide. Picture: Matt Loxton

It was Mr Hill’s parents who had noticed the story in the Sunday Mail on February 12 and put two and two together.

“They obviously knew what had happened but didn’t know who it was and I was actually hoping to get back in contact with Rex as well because I wanted to know how he was,” Mr Hill says.

Leverington said the incident highlighted the importance of knowing first aid.

“I am even going to go and do a course now myself because you never know when you’re going to be in a situation when you’ll need to act quickly like that,” he said.