Injured woman nominated for award after she saves boys life at botanic gardens Mt Annan

AS DEB McPherson was cashing up at work on Sunday, May 17, 2015, she had no idea she was about to save someone’s life. Her actions have earned her a Pride of Australia nomination.

Debra McPherson with husband Ron. The Macquarie Fields resident was nominated for a Pride of Australia award after performing CPR on a young boy who suffered a heart attack at the Botanic Gardens and saving his life. Ron was also on the scene with a defibrillator. Picture: Robert Pozo

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AS DEB McPherson was cashing up at work on Sunday, May 17, 2015, she had no idea she was about to save someone’s life.

Now retired, the 61-year-old was an employee at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mt Annan, when she came to the aid of then 15-year-old Ben Morgan, who had gone into cardiac arrest.

Having learned first aid only months before, Mrs McPherson didn’t hesitate to perform CPR until an ambulance arrived, despite having a paralysed left arm and suffering from an injured back and asthma.

Her humble heroism has earned her a nomination for a Pride of Australia award.

Now, more than a year on, the incident is still fresh in Mrs McPherson’s mind.

“The woman from the restaurant raced down and banged on my door, saying a boy had collapsed,” Mrs McPherson said.

“I said I’ve got training so I’ll have a look at him.

“It was very stressful and emotional and I didn’t know if I had saved him.

“When his father brought him into the shop a few weeks later I burst into tears.”

Ben Morgan, from Mt Annan (front centre) who almost died from cardiac arrest was reunited with the paramedics and passers by who saved his life. (back L-R) Gabrielle O'Dea, Clare Ramnac, David Kynaston, David Ipsen and Jemma Murphy. (front L-R) Thomas Finch, Ben Morgan and Ron McPherson. Debra was unable to attend at the time. Picture: Robert Pozo

The Macquarie Fields resident has remained modest throughout the aftermath of the ordeal, and said she was grateful for the help of her husband Ron, passers-by who lent a hand, and the paramedics who attended.

“There were a lot of people involved in that rescue and it was just lucky we were all in the right place at the right time that day,” she said.

“It’s a miracle that he’s alive and to me it’s a very surreal feeling.

“You’re a human being, how can you save another person’s life?”

Debra was able to perform life saving CPR for a long time, even though she has a paralysed left arm and suffers from an injured back and asthma. Picture: Robert Pozo

Her husband Ron worked as a ranger at the site and rushed to the scene with a defibrillator.

The former policeman said he couldn’t be prouder of his wife, who has been by his side for 43 years.

“This meant so much to Deb and I am so proud of her because the decisions she had to make were not easy decisions,” Mr McPherson said.

“I’ve seen a lot of people get to a scene like that and just panic. But she had no panic, you would not have been able to prise her away with a crowbar, all she wanted to do was keep going.

“The odds were against her but she did what she had to do and you wouldn’t have seen a quicker response.

“It’s a miracle what she did and I could not fault her.”