Volunteer firefighter Robert Elliot says thanks to those who saved him after cardiac arrest
When volunteer firefighter Robert Elliott did a first aid course 20-years-ago, he was told he would likely have to do CPR on a friend or colleague. But he never thought he would need it.
Tasmania
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Robert Elliott says that he does not remember anything from the eight days before his cardiac arrest while in a Tasmania Fire Service truck in September 2023.
“From what I’ve been told, we got called out to a job at Lake Leake – just the other side of Swansea,” the volunteer firefighter and former Cranbrook Brigade Chief said.
“We got a couple of trucks bogged trying to access the fire and was on the radio, and that’s when it happened.
“And Tom, who was in the truck with me, pulled me out – and him and Bill started CPR on me, and then the other guys turned up with a defibrillator.”
On Friday, Mr Elliott was reunited with his mates who took steps to save his life.
“I still get a bit emotional thinking about it. They saved me, so I’ve got a lot of gratitude for them,” he said.
“It was eight days in ICU and then two weeks in the ward.”
He believed that having a defibrillator on hand was critical to his survival.
“I did a first aid course 20-odd years ago, and they said you’ll probably use CPR on a friend or a colleague,” Mr Elliott said.
“I never thought I’d be the colleague or friend to be used on.
“So in that aspect, I think defibs should be out there a lot more. They’re cheap, and every workplace should have one.”
As a result of the cardiac arrest, Mr Elliot said his heart specialist told him he could not be on the front line anymore fighting fires.
“I have long-term damage to my heart, but they saved me, and I just wanted to catch up with them all again and say thank you.
“They were in the right place, at the right time, and I will be forever thankful.”
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