‘Everything went dark’: cardiac arrest survivor urges first aid training on Restart A Heart Day

Gavin Mippy is lucky to be alive, and he knows it.

The 50-year-old Pilbara man suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while playing football in July, and he has only recently returned home after spending weeks in Perth hospitals.

A reunion between Gavin and those who helped him in those crucial first minutes after his cardiac arrest was organised in honour of Restart A Heart Day.

Before this reunion, organised by St John WA with the help of Rio Tinto, the last time Gavin was at the Dampier football oval was the day he collapsed on the field.

“I’m back here today to tell the story of what happened,” he said.

Gavin had been running for a lead during the match when he said he “over-exerted himself”.

“That’s when it happened,” Gavin said.

“I blacked out. Everything just went completely dark.”

Watching from the sidelines was Gavin’s wife Cody, who is a registered nurse.

She saw her partner collapse and his team mates began first aid.

“I ran out there,” she said.

“I looked down at him and he wasn’t breathing.

“We started CPR, and someone went and got a defib.

“We gave a shock.

“[But] he didn’t come back to life.”

Further rounds of chest compressions led to Gavin regaining consciousness.

By then, the Rio Tinto emergency team and St John WA ambulance were on their way.

“We can’t thank any of them enough,” Cody said.

“[Gavin] had the right team lined up.”

Like many who experience a cardiac arrest, Gavin said he had felt no symptoms, even though he had experienced a similar medical incident 11 years earlier.

“This could happen to anyone, any time, anywhere, anyplace,” he said.

“I want to try to get it out to the community – get trained up on this equipment.

“It’s all about giving people a second chance at life.”

Fellow first responder and SJWA volunteer Peter Mews had also been watching the game from the sidelines when he saw Gavin fall to the ground.

“Everyone was just working in a team,” he said.

“We just got done what needed to get done.”

Peter said early CPR and the quick placement of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on Gavin were what saved him.

“It was a very good outcome,” he said.

Since his cardiac arrest, Gavin has had a triple bypass, and has made a remarkable recovery, even paying tribute to the emergency and health services that helped him during his ordeal.

Playing football may not be on the cards anymore, but he said he planned to continue his involvement with the Wickham Wolves Football Club – maybe as a waterboy, or even as a coach.

“This scared me something bad,” Gavin said.

“But I’m not scared anymore.

“I want to get it out there – learn first aid.”

Sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in Australia, with only one in 10 patients surviving one.

Remember to CALL (Triple Zero – 000), PUSH (CPR) and SHOCK (with an AED) on October 16 for Restart A Heart Day.

First aid courses run by St John WA can help save lives.

Learn more HERE.