AFL Grand Final 2016: Bulldog suffers heart attack, survives with quick help
UPDATE: A BULLDOGS fan who suffered a heart attack 10 minutes before his team’s Grand Final victory may not have survived if not for his determination to see the game.
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A BULLDOGS fan who suffered a heart attack at Saturday’s MCG blockbuster may not have survived if not for his determination to see their Grand Final berth.
The ground’s ready access to a defibrillator and the quick-thinking of an off-duty paramedic are being credited with saving 64-year-old Rob McCarthy’s life.
The lifelong Doggies supporter, who was also attending the game to honour his Sydney Swans supporting wife who died of a heart condition eight years ago, went into cardiac arrest just 10 minutes before his side claimed victory.
He was yesterday recovering in intensive care but has told family he can’t believe he missed their premiership win.
Daughter Bec Ross told the Herald Sun: “Ironically my dad was saying throughout the day: ‘If the Bulldogs win I’m going to have a heart attack’.”
“I think if he hadn’t of been at the MCG he wouldn’t have survived,’’ Ms Ross said.
“He was lucky really.
“The doctor said because the MCG is so well equipped with so much medical equipment they were able to get to him and defibrillate him a lot quicker.”
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Mr McCarthy, sitting on Level 2 of the ground with his late wife’s sister, would likely have watched the Grand Final alone at his Somerville home but was desperate to go and managed to get tickets at the last minute through a relative’s friend.
The retirement village caretaker slumped in his seat without warning at 5.06pm, an off-duty paramedic sitting nearby finding Mr McCarthy had no pulse and dragging him into the aisle to perform CPR which continued for about fifteen minutes.
Paramedics on duty including two specialists intensive care units also went to Mr McCarthy’s aid, using a defibrillator to shock him back to life.
He was taken to the Epworth Hospital and had a stent inserted in his heart.
Mr McCarthy, who survived another heart attack two years ago, doesn’t remember much of the incident and is being monitored closely as his heart is in a state of cardiogenic shock.
A photo showed him in a hospital bed proudly donning a Bulldogs scarf.
“He is alert and he is conscious which is good and he is very happy the Bulldogs won,’’ Ms Ross said.
“He missed the last 10 minutes of the game which he is spewing about.
“I gave him hug and told him the Bulldogs won. He said: ‘I know and I didn’t even get to see the end of it and it was such a close game and so good.’
“He was very happy.”
The family thanked the off-duty paramedic, bystanders and MCG staff who helped Mr McCarthy and consoled his sister-in-law as well as paramedics and police who escorted his brother-in-law to the ground from a nearby Richmond pub.
“It was amazing,’’ Ms Ross said.
“If he had of been home on his own he would have passed away.
“He is Doggies through and through from the day they were Footscray — his father was Footscray.
“He was desperately wanting to go.
“He had been looking forward to this for many years.”
It comes as the State Government this morning announced more firefighters will respond to heart attack victims through a life saving Victorian program set to be expanded across the state.
Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino and Minister for Ambulance Services Jill Hennessy announced five more stations have received training and special equipment to respond to triple zero calls for heart attacks.
“If our firefighters get there first they will provide life saving support until the Ambulance arrives,” Mr Merlino said.
Stations to benefit include Frankston, Rosebud, Patterson River, Pakenham and Traralgon.
Mr Merlino said the program would be rolled out in growth areas with a further 20 stations to follow.
Ms Hennessy said “seconds saves lives” and the dual dispatch meant victims had better chances of survival under the program.
“By working together, our paramedics and our fire fighters are making sure Victorians get the life-saving emergency care they need, sooner.”
The roll out mimics a similar program run in the MFB and comes after 2011 trial which found significantly improved response times to people suffering heart attacks.
The program has now been rolled out to 15 integrated stations.
- with Alex White
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Originally published as AFL Grand Final 2016: Bulldog suffers heart attack, survives with quick help
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