Kade Handford’s sudden fatal heart attack results in lifesaving donation to QAS paramedics

Healthy and fit, Kade Handford was full of life and always had time for others, but a sudden heart attack cut his life short cruelly at the age of 31. Now, his death is helping to train the next generation of Toowoomba’s frontline paramedics.

The sudden death of a fit 31-year-old man has enabled Toowoomba paramedics to gain further training around cardiac episodes.

Kade Handford passed away from a heart attack in July 2021, and though his funeral, his family have donated thousands of dollars to the Toowoomba Local Ambulance Committee.

As a result, the LAC have used the donated funds to purchase of a cardiac mannequin for the town’s paramedics.

“From our understanding, there were three crews there trying to save (Kade’s) life … they did a mighty job and we can’t thank you enough,” Kade’s mum Christine Handford said.

Darling Downs man Kade Handford died at the age of 31 due to a sudden heart attack in 2021. Thursday, February 9, 2023. Picture: Facebook.

“Kade would think that it would be absolutely amazing that losing him is helping so many other people in so many ways.”

Mr Handford was described as a bubbly person who always had time for others.

At his funeral, Mrs Handford said her family were blown away by the love shown to her “mischievous son” who was full of life and working hard to better himself by going to the gym multiple times a week.

“Heart attacks can happen to anyone at any age,” she said.

“Kade was very fit. He was very proud of how he was feeling and looking.

“At my last lunch with him he was saying ‘Look at this mum, I’m doing really well’ (while patting his stomach). A week later he had passed away very unexpectedly.”

Mrs Handford said it was determined a build up of plaque in his arteries was the reason her son, business owner of Kage Fabrication, had passed away.

Due to his age, warning signs of his health were dismissed as a result of simply pushing it too far at the gym.

From a shortness of breath after a workout, to getting a headache with peripheral vision disturbance, Mr Handford reportedly didn’t think his symptoms were anything to be concerned about.

Kade Handford's mum Christine is proud to be raising awareness and help the Toowoomba Local Ambulance Committee purchase a new cardiac mannequin for paramedics to train on. Thursday, February 9, 2023. Picture: Morgan Burley

However, his experiences were now saving the lives of friends who have been checked for heart problems and potentially dangerous problems found.

“No matter how old or how young you are, it can happen to you,” Mrs Handford said.

“Kade was a very special brother and a very special son … if in doubt, get yourself checked out.”

Mrs Handford had worked in the health industry for 15 years and said it was important for her family to acknowledge and support the sometimes “forgotten heroes” in the community.

“They’re always the ones we call when we’re sick, we’ve had an accident, they’re always there and we ring triple-0 and we expect them to be there,” she said.

Kade Handford's mum Christine is proud to be raising awareness and help the Toowoomba Local Ambulance Committee purchase a new cardiac mannequin for paramedics to train on. Thursday, February 9, 2023. Picture: Morgan Burley

“I just feel that anything we can do to help raise funds to help these guys in education and anything to just give them a help along, I think is just a fantastic thing to do.”

Queensland Ambulance Service Darling Downs and South West Assistant Commissioner Michelle Baxter said the cardiac mannequin meant an “awful lot” to the organisation.

“For our critical care paramedics to practice that very specialised skill of utilising those port-a-caths in an appropriate way to keep them safe and free from infection is really important,” she said.

“The ability to practice in a non-stressful situation is just perfect.”

Mrs Handford encouraged residents to donate to the Toowoomba LAC so further training equipment can be donated to the Toowoomba QAS team.