Ashburton teens who saved friend’s life receive Community Hero Awards
When 15-year-old Oscar Hickey found his friend lying at the bottom of a backyard pool, he thought his mate was just mucking around. But when he discovered it was serious, the teen launched into action.
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If it weren’t for the heroic actions of three Ashburton teenagers their friend wouldn’t be alive.
Today will be a year to the day when Oscar Hickey, 15, turned to find his friend Declan Savage, also 15, laying motionless on the bottom of a backyard pool.
Oscar jumped into the pool, thinking at first Declan was only “mucking around”.
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But when he realised it was serious Oscar dragged his friend to the surface and yelled out to his brother Toby, 13, for help.
The Hickey brothers then performed CPR, which they had learnt through their surf lifesaving training, while Declan’s 13-year-old brother Liam called triple-0.
The boys worked to save their friend as Liam waited on the street for emergency services to arrive.
“The most important thing was not to panic,” Oscar said.
“I went to get some blankets because he was smashing his head on the concrete”, Liam said.
Declan regained a pulse just as the Metropolitan Fire Brigade emergency medical response unit turned up.
Paramedic Samuel Marshall said the boys were trying to keep Declan calm when they arrived because he was agitated and distressed.
“The boys did an incredible job to provide medical care before emergency services arrived,” he said.
Declan was placed in an induced coma by paramedics and taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Declan said he admired his friends for their actions.
“Without them I wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria presented the three teenagers with community hero medals at a special ceremony this month.
This year was the 19th year of Ambulance Victoria’s Community Hero Awards — 17 Victorians were honoured for their bravery at this year’s ceremony.
The annual awards are a chance to showcase the important role quick-thinking bystanders can play when an emergency strikes.
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