Sons’ swift actions save Dad’s life at remote beach campsite
Scaddan farmer Nigel Norwood owes his life to the quick actions of his wife and teenage sons while camping at Alexander Bay, 100 kilometres from the nearest hospital in Esperance and one hour from ambulance help.
Mr Norwood suffered a cardiac arrest just before dinner at the coastal campsite on January 28, 2025.
Wife Lynne ran to find help to call Triple Zero (000) due to the lack of mobile coverage in the remote four-wheel-drive location.
His 16-year-old son Liam had recently undertaken first aid training as part of his cricket program at his Senior High School in Perth and began CPR with the help of a fellow camper.
His other son Bevan, 19, who also knew first aid raced to retrieve a St John WA community defibrillator from the nearby toilet block.
After the third shock from the Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Mr Norwood’s pulse returned and he was alert when the ambulance crew arrived.
“The training and preparedness assisted with their level-headed thinking and actions on the day of Nigel’s arrest,” Mrs Norwood said.
“I ran to fellow campers who had a Starlink satellite visible by their caravan.
“This was the only way to get a call out from the campsite and it was fortunate that I’d noticed it earlier in the day.”
St John WA Paramedic and Resuscitation Improvement Specialist Jason Belcher said Mr Norwood would have unequivocally died without the collective efforts of his family and bystanders.
“If your first shock comes from a community defibrillator rather than something we bring as the ambulance service, your chances of being a survivor are more than three times higher,” Jason said.
“I can’t think of anything we could introduce to our clinical practice as paramedics that is going to triple survival.
“But early community CPR and defibrillation does.”
Only 1 in 10 survive out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), which can happen to anyone, at any age or level of fitness as it suddenly stops the electrical pulse to a person’s heart rendering them suddenly unconscious with abnormal breathing.
For every minute without help from bystanders – calling Triple Zero (000) and performing CPR – the chance of survival diminishes by 10 per cent.
Mr Norwood credits his sons with saving his life and encourages everyone to learn first aid and use an AED.
“Without a doubt I wouldn’t be here today without them,” he said.
“Everyone should learn.”
Learn CPR today, here.
For quick online first aid tips when camping, visit: https://firstaidforme.stjohnwa.com.au/first-aid-for-camping/
Register an AED on the State Defibrillator Network and help St John grow its community OHCA response to help save lives.