Jon Phillips recounts shocking ordeal at Barwon Heads soccer field
A teacher from Barwon Heads says he owes his life to his quick-thinking teammates, CPR and a defibrillator, after he collapsed during a local soccer match.
When Jon Phillips collapsed at soccer training, his survival hinged on a lifesaving combination – CPR-trained teammates and a nearby defibrillator.
On May 16, Mr Phillips, 54, was playing soccer with his senior men’s team in Barwon Heads when he left the pitch complaining of chest pains.
But his coach Mark Rappa acted quickly.
“As soon as I said chest pains it was all hands on deck,” Mr Phillips said.
“Someone got the doctors, someone went to get the defibrillators, someone called the ambulance.
“I knew everything was going to be okay.
“Then lights out.”
Mr Rappa had called over two teammates Andrew Marriott and Kazunori Nakajima, both of whom were doctors, while the Barwon Heads soccer club president called triple-0.
Mr Phillips’ partner Peta Trinder said Jon had messaged her immediately to say he was having chest pain, and she called for help.
“We were supposed to be having lunch after the soccer game with Jean (Moller) … an emergency physician,” she said.
“I messaged her to say lunch was off.
“She was already on her way … riding her bike through here, so she was able to come by and attend.
“She performed the CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
“All the pieces fit together and mean he’s standing here.
“She was pretty instrumental.”
Jean Moller had advised the group to bring the nearby automated external defibrillator (AED) over just in case, moments before Mr Phillips went into cardiac arrest.
Then, Ms Moller, Mr Rappa and bystander Carly Vanderzeil immediately started the chain of survival.
Working together, they took turns administering CPR and used the club’s AED to shock Mr Phillips twice before paramedics arrived.
An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said the attending crews then managed Jon’s airways and administered medications to stabilise him, before he was transported to Geelong Hospital for treatment.
Every day, around 21 Victorians experience a cardiac arrest and only one in 10 survive.
“When a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED before paramedics arrive, their chance of survival more than doubles,” she said.
On Friday, Mr Phillips reunited with the paramedics who helped save his live.
One of them, Sam Williams, said Jon is living proof of the impact public AEDs can have on patient outcomes.
“It’s fantastic to see Jon recovering so well and back with his teammates only five months on. It’s testament to the efforts of everyone who helped him that day,” he said.
“It’s cases like Jon’s that highlight the impact early bystander intervention can have on a patient’s health outcome.”
Barwon Heads Soccer Club president Rebecca Kennedy-Dalton said the incident has reinforced how important publicly accessible defibrillators are in the community.
“I encourage all groups and businesses to look into getting an AED and for all individuals to know where your nearest device is located,” Ms Dalton said.
Mr Phillips said he would always be thankful for his club and community.
“I’m doing great now and that’s because everyone acted so quickly to help me,” he said.
“I owe my life to my teammates and hope others take this as their sign to learn CPR and know where their nearest AED is.”
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Originally published as Jon Phillips recounts shocking ordeal at Barwon Heads soccer field
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