Highpoint Shopping Centre security guard saves teen’s life

A HIGHPOINT security guard has spoken of the terrifying moment that literally laid at his feet when a teenager collapsed and stopped breathing on the shopping centre floor.

JAIDYN Calleja wouldn’t be alive today without the quick-thinking actions of a Highpoint security guard.

In May this year, the 17-year-old suffered from an allergic reaction at the shopping centre and became lifeless moments later.

Candan Baykan, a security supervisor, rushed to the centre’s medical clinic after being notified of the emergency and gave the teenager lifesaving CPR.

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Within seven minutes Jaidyn had a pulse and was breathing again.

Mr Baykan said breathing the life back into Jaidyn’s lungs was a surreal moment.

“It was such an emotional experience, I was shaken,” he said.

“So many things were racing through my mind.”

Candan Baykan saved Jaidyn Calleja’s life after he had an allergic reaction from a burger. Picture: Ellen Smith.

Mr Baykan was presented with a St John’s Ambulance Save a Life Award in Sydney last month as recognition of his heroic actions. Jaidyn’s mother, Karen Calleja told the Leader her son’s anaphylaxis was caused due to traces of peanuts found in a burger he consumed at the centre.

Ms Calleja initially thought the situation was an “over-reaction” as her son had never suffered from an anaphylactic reaction before.

She said she became overwhelmed with the fear of losing her son.

“It was really scary … his friends were bawling their eyes out,” she said. “We’re ever so thankful that he was there — he saved my son’s life.” Paramedics arrived a few minutes later and Jaidyn was taken to Footscray Hospital for further treatment.

Mr Baykan, who had worked in security for 15 years, said he’d never performed CPR before on the job.

While he undertook first aid training every year, Mr Baykan said those seven minutes of CPR were among the most intense moments of his life.

“It was one of the most life-changing experiences in my life,” he said. Despite being a traumatic incident for all, the silver-lining to surface from the experience was the friendship formed between Mr Baykan and Jaidyn.

Mr Baykan said they now shared a special bond.

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