Garry Druitt thanks Warrnambool’s Flume beach rescuers after heart attack

A split second decision for a surf at Warrnambool’s Flume beach almost killed Garry Druitt, but a perfect storm of quick-thinking strangers saved a man’s life.

Pip Pascoe, Erin Ballinger, Garry Druitt, Flynn Dowie and Laura Main. Picture: Nicole Cleary

The chain of people who saved Garry Druitt stretches from the choppy waters off Warrnambool’s Flume beach, to the clouds overhead and an emergency department 250km away in Melbourne.

It has been 14 months since the local father suffered a cardiac arrest “completely out of the blue” while surfing.

A split second decision to surf at Flume Beach instead of his usual isolated haunt on March 4 2022, put him on a collision course with this group of strangers – from a high school student who leapt into action to a quick-thinking surfer who stole a bike to find a defibrillator.

Flynn Dowie was surfing when Garry suffered a cardiac arrest nearby. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Garry, now 71, does not remember his cardiac arrest, but said he has since been told he slipped underwater and began “convulsing”.

But in a stroke of luck, local firefighter Hugh Mahoney was paddling next to him and immediately “recognised what was happening”.

He called out to nearby surfers 15-year-old Flynn Dowie and Pip Pascoe, who helped haul Garry onto his board, battling the relentless waves as the trio fought to bring his lifeless body to shore.

Rescuers with Garry a year after helping save the surfer’s life. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Meanwhile surfer Erin Ballinger – who said she initially mistook the commotion for a shark attack – paddled in to find a passer-by to call Triple-0 and a defibrillator.

She began running to the surf club 1km up the beach, only stopping to jump on a bicycle she passed.

She returned with both the lifesaving device and nurse Laura Main, who had been jogging past the surf club, and said Garry was “shockingly pale”.

“I felt like my mind distracted me from the seriousness of the situation,” she said.

“I was worried about how cold his feet would be.”

Garry said by this point Hugh and another nurse who had run over to help had performed CPR for more than 15 minutes, and cut his wetsuit to attach the defibrillator.

He described the team – who also helped push emergency service’s vehicle over the sand when they arrived – as a “silent community” of helpers.

“Other surfers there thought I was dead and it was a waste of time,” he said.

But in the back of the ambulance 30 minutes after he slipped off his board, he said paramedics got his pulse back.

“It’s amazingly lucky,” he said.

Pip Pascoe. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Erin Ballinger. Picture: Nicole Cleary

That luck continued, with Garry flown by helicopter to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for lifesaving care.

RMH emergency director Associate Professor Mark Putland said it was a “real privilege” to care for such patients.

“It’s a challenge to us to live up to that expectation that’s laid out by the fact that someone is flying a helicopter to land on our roof,” he said.

“It’s a signal that the work you’re being trained to do here is absolutely critical.”

Garry spent a few days in a coma – his anxious wife and son by his side – and later learnt his arrest was triggered by six blocked arteries.

Despite the terror of undergoing cardiac bypass surgery – and the 1.5L of seawater in his lungs – it was the kindness and patience of the RMH staff that he remembered.

Nurse Laura Main had been jogging past the surf club. Picture: Nicole Cleary

“They’re just really focused on caring for you,” he said.

“It was fantastic.

“Even the surgeons talk to you like you’re a person.”

After completing the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation program, Garry said he was “really well” and keen to give back to the community that saved him, joining the responding SES unit and learning CPR.

He stayed in touch with his Warrnambool crew, grabbing a drink with some of them on the anniversary. Erin said it was “pure joy” to see him smiling with his family.

“I remember feeling so amazed and proud of the people that were involved,” she said.

For Associate Prof Putland, Garry’s story is a testament to the power of CPR.

He said people should “not to be afraid” to act when needed.

“If someone has had a cardiac arrest, they’re not going to get any worse from what you do,” he said.

“Anything you do is likely to be better than nothing.”

Garry Druitt is living proof.

Originally published as Garry Druitt thanks Warrnambool’s Flume beach rescuers after heart attack