An act of kindness from the top shelf saves top lawyer Jeremy Rapke

HIGH-profile lawyer Jeremy Rapke died on a Malvern footpath - but lived to hail the stranger who saved him.

The former Director of Public Prosecutions Jeremy Rapke has nominated Brandon-Lee Rocco after he saved his life on a footpath last year. Jeremy had suffered a cardiac arrest and was clinically dead when Brandon-Lee performed CPR in (Glenferrie Road Malvern pictured at the exact location) Picture: Norm Oorloff

HIGH-profile lawyer Jeremy Rapke died on a Malvern footpath — but lived to hail the stranger who saved him.

During a night out for dinner on Glenferrie Rd, the former Director of Public Prosecutions suddenly fell to the ground in cardiac arrest.

He stopped breathing, had no pulse, and his skin was turning grey.

But fate intervened in the form of a big-hearted supermarket worker with first aid training.

Brandon-Lee Rocco, 25, abandoned his car across the tram tracks and raced to Mr Rapke’s aid, performing CPR for an exhausting 15 minutes.

He continued as paramedics arrived.

“I knelt down next to him and he wasn’t breathing, he was lifeless and stiff,’’ he remembers. “I thought ‘Oh crap, he’s dead’. After about 30 compressions his body tried to fight back.’’

It was a selfless act that saved the former DPP’s life on July 10 last year.

Paramedics worked on Mr Rapke for about 40 minutes, before ferrying him to The Alfred hospital.

He spent five days in a coma before surgery, and was incredulous when told of his saviour’s actions.

“I was clinically dead,’’ Mr Rapke wrote in a Pride of Australia nomination for Mr Rocco. “Thanks to the selfless and courageous intervention of Brandon-Lee Rocco, I survived without any residual disabilities.

“I owe him my life. Many would not have stopped and intervened as Brandon did.’’

But Mr Rocco played down his efforts, saying he just liked to help others.

“I just did something I hope everybody else would.’’

To nominate someone admirable before July 29, go to heraldsun.com.au/prideofaustralia.