Fairfield West: Woman survives crash due to two firefighters

A woman was revived by two first responders who happened to be passing by after her car smashed into a pole and trees in Sydney’s southwest.

Woman saved by first responders after crash in Sydney’s southwest. Picture: Tom Parrish

A woman was revived by two first responders who witnessed her car crash into a pole and trees in Sydney’s southwest.

Two Fire Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters came across the crash site around 4pm on Monday where they found a 45-year-old woman unconscious behind the wheel.

Initial reports indicate the car was clipped by another car before crashing near a roundabout on Polding St, Fairfield West.

The firefighters quickly began doing compressions and used the emergency defibrillator on the woman who was in “dire straits”, according to a statement by FRNSW.

“When we found her initially unconscious … there was no pulse, she wasn’t breathing, she was unresponsive,” FRNSW’s Station Officer Stuart Smith recalled.

A passing police riot squad unit and another fire crew from Cabramatta also stopped by the scene to assist the pair minutes later.

The two firefighters continued compressions for 10 minutes before the woman regained consciousness, but required ongoing care before paramedics arrived.

“She came to but a short time later, lost consciousness again, so we recommenced CPR and when she was revived a second time, we placed her in the recovery position,” FRNSW’s Station Officer Michael Nguyen said.

Their efforts brought the woman valuable time for NSW Ambulance paramedics to arrive and take over, transporting the woman to hospital.

Officer Nguyen said their emergency life support training kicked in, and the experienced firefighters were acting in line with FRNSW’s motto of being ‘Prepared for Anything.’

“I’m proud of the way all of us were able to help her,” Station Officer Smith said.