Ambulance Victoria rewards three heroes with prestigious award
When a basketballer collapsed on court at Monash University’s Peninsula Campus, three heroes, two with ironic backstories, rushed to his aid and saved his life.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Three quick-thinking heroes brought together after saving a stranger’s life have been rewarded for their bravery and selflessness.
Ricky Bolmers, Denis Mahoney and Paul Cooper were all at the indoor basketball courts at Monash University’s Peninsula Campus when Nathan Reinhard suffered an almost fatal heart attack.
Ironically, Mr Bolmers, 33, had spent the day at a CPR and defibrillation refresher course and remembers seeing the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine as he walked into the facility.
“Having just done the CPR course that day I remember how critical it was to get the AED machine, so I ran straight to the machine, grabbed that and ran to the situation,” he said.
Remarkably Mr Cooper, 50, had performed CPR on his son two years prior and heard the commotion from across the courts, so rushed over and started CPR.
“I was watching my son’s basketball match and then my wife got a call from someone on the other court that a fellow had just collapsed, so I immediately started doing CPR,” he said.
“I had the unfortunate experience of having to perform CPR with a doctor beside on my son who was 16 at the time, two years prior to what happened to Nathan, so I had had an open experience of how to perform CPR.”
Mr Mahoney, 51, had just arrived at the basketball courts with his son and knew something wasn’t right when he saw Mr Reinhard lying on the ground and immediately called triple-0 (000).
“On that evening I was bringing my son to basketball at Monash and as we came through the doors I looked at Nathan on the ground and it was immediately I realised this was serious and so jumped straight on the phone,” he said.
Mr Reinhard, 37, was filling in for a friends basketball team when he started to feel ill.
“I was playing basketball and I started to feel really really rough and a little bit light headed and I just turned to the guys and I said ‘I feel like I’m going to pass out,’” he said.
Mr Reinhard’s heart stopped beating, but with the three men all playing vital roles, they were able to save him.
“Ricky came in from the side and I just saw he had the AED and I thought ‘oh thank god for that, I didn’t think of that,’” Mr Mahoney said.
Mr Bolmers said “Denis was on the phone to the paramedics, Paul was jumping in giving CPR, then just co-ordinating and trying to keep a calm atmosphere.”
MORE:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF BUSHFIRE SEASON
CLYDE NORTH PRIMARY LOCKDOWN ENDS AFTER GAS LEAK FIX
OPERATION NABS DRUNK AND DRUG DRIVERS
Mr Reinhard spent two weeks in hospital recovering from the heart attack, something he wouldn’t have been able to do without the three men.
“It’s really encouraging to know that we were all part of helping keep someone alive, Nathan’s now got a second chance of life,” Mr Mahoney said.
Mr Reinhard said he couldn’t thank the three men enough.
“Ricky, Denis and Paul’s actions saved my life, and I am very confident that if any of those guys didn’t do what they did I wouldn’t be here to tell the story today,” he said.
“So I’m just extremely thankful.”
The three men were among 11 Victorians recognised by Ambulance Victoria as Community Heroes for their brave and selfless intervention to save the life of a stranger, neighbour, family member or friend.