Ian Hutchinson launches CPR Friendly website to teach lifesaving skills for the time poor

A father whose life was saved against the odds by passers-by has found a novel way to help cut the number of people who die from cardiac arrest.

Ian Hutchinson, who had a cardiac arrest while cycling around Narrabeen Lagoon, with all those who helped save his life on that day. Picture: Julian Andrews.

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This is how many people it took to save one man’s life.

Ian Hutchinson, 56, of Newport, suffered a cardiac arrest while on a bike ride around Narrabeen Lagoon.

Last week for the first time he was reunited with the emergency services who attended on the day — and the passers-by who stopped and gave him CPR for the eight crucial minutes before the professionals arrived.

Without them having a go, he would have died.

Ian Hutchinson pictured with his partner Katie Roberts, 38, and his daughter Sierra Hutchinson. (Picture: Julian Andrews.

The father-of-one said he was one of the ‘lucky nine per cent’ who survive a cardiac arrest, caused by an electrical fault in the heart which can happen to anyone.

Mr Hutchinson has made it his mission to change that statistic. This week he launched a website called CPR Friendly with a series of humorous micro training videos from just five seconds to 30 minutes, and a longer three hour tutorial.

“Those who gave me CPR in those first few minutes saved my life,” he said.

“Without them having a go I wouldn’t be here. That’s the message I want to get across.

“Doing something is better than nothing.”

It was at around 10.30am on September 25 when Mr Hutchinson came off his bike while having a cardiac arrest.

Ian Hutchinson, 56, of Newport, at Royal North Shore Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest at Narrabeen Lakes. Picture: Supplied.

Mate Don Mackee, 53, of Elanora Heights, heard Mr Hutchinson yell out and raced back. Luckily that day walkers Caroline Hepburn, 56, of Warriewood and Anne Ross, 58, of Beacon Hill, came round the corner and saw the scene.

Both had done CPR courses, although years before. Mr Mackee did CPR training at school.

“He was gasping and very grey, then he wasn’t breathing at all,” Ms Ross said.

They called the emergency services and while they spent several minutes trying to work out their location, the Triple 0 operator talked them through a series of checks and told them how to begin CPR.

Ian Hutchinson, 56, of Newport has set up a website called cprfriendly.org. Picture: Julian Andrews.

All three helped perform CPR before a runner, Tim Locke, who had done CPR training recently, stopped and took over.

Ms Ross and Ms Hepburn said they would not hesitate to offer help again after realising their efforts had helped save a life.

Leading Senior Constable Michelle Tanner said Mr Hutchinson would not be alive without the help of those strangers.

“That eight minutes was critical and the fact that many people were working on him, saved him,” she said.

Mr Hutchinson was shocked twice by paramedics before he was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Mark Lenehan, a Mona Vale paramedic said CPR can be confronting because if you are doing it right ribs will break.

“No-one dies from a broken rib,” he said.

“Learn CPR but if you haven’t a Triple 0 operator will coach you through it.”

Go to cprfriendly.org