Family’s appeal for people to learn CPR

SCHOOLBOY Harry Stewart was dead for 18 minutes. The 12-year-old’s heart stopped while he was exercising with a friend. His family released the heart-rending recording of their triple-0 call to encourage people to learn CPR. LISTEN TO THE CALL

SCHOOLBOY Harry Stewart was dead for 18 minutes.

The 12-year-old’s heart stopped while he was exercising with a friend last December.

He is alive today because his mother and two neighbours were able to do CPR until paramedics, on a second attempt, shocked his heart to start it beating again.

On international Restart a Heart Day on Tuesday, Harry and his family shared their story — and a heart-rending recording of their triple-0 call — to encourage people to learn cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

Harry Stewart’s heart stopped while he was exercising.

In the recording, Harry’s mother Allison Pratt can be heard calling out “Harry’s dead” as his father Shaun Stewart arrived back home.

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When Harry collapsed, Ms Pratt — who had done a CPR course — cleared his mouth and rolled him on his side as she screamed for help.

Neighbour Keli Martin called triple-0 and relayed instructions for CPR as Sue Spence, who lived across the street, also ran over to help.

The combined efforts of the three women meant oxygen was supplied to Harry’s brain, heart and lungs for the next 16 minutes.

Harry Stewart with his mum Allison Pratt and Syd Francis, NSW Ambulance intensive care paramedic who saved Harry's life. Picture: Tim Hunter.

But Harry still had no heartbeat.

Off-duty intensive care paramedic Syd Francis was in bed at home a few doors away when he was called to join NSW Ambulance crews trying to revive Harry.

“The first crews arrived (and) shocked him. It didn’t work,” Mr Francis said.

“We had to shock him a second time.

“His heart started, he got his pulse back, he came around.

“By the time we got to hospital he was annoyed with me because he wanted a drink and I wouldn’t give him a drink.”

Not only did Harry survive, he escaped brain damage or memory loss.

With a pacemaker now implanted in his chest, he lives a mostly normal life with no side-effects from the ordeal.

Harry is alive today because his mother and two neighbours were able to do CPR.

“There’s just no contact sport, I’ve got to be careful about it,” Harry told The Daily Telegraph.

The CPR provided by his mother and neighbours not only improved his chances of survival when the defibrillator arrived, but ensured a vital oxygen supply to his brain — preventing long-term damage.

While all three woman had been trained in CPR, Ms Pratt said she struggled to recall the skills while her child was unconscious before her.

“I couldn’t remember what to do … when you’re doing it on a manikin it’s different from your own son,” Ms Pratt said.

Ms Pratt knew her son suffered a condition caused by an abnormal heart rhythm but throughout his cardiac arrest she never gave up hope of bringing him back to life.

“We knew if we got the defibrillator, we could restart the heart,” Ms Pratt said.

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said Harry’s case should inspire people to learn CPR.

“Without CPR being given as quickly as it was in this case, Harry wouldn’t have made it. Every second counts,” Mr Morgan said.