Wade’s survival story inspires CBH defibrillator donation at Northam Oval

• In July 2023, father and Federals footy player Wade Hunter had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Northam and survived thanks to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
• Through the HMMS scheme administered by CBH, WA grain growers have ensured a publicly accessible 24/7 AED will now sit metres from the Henry Street Oval thanks to Wade’s story.
• Sadly, only one in 10 people who experience OHCA live to tell the tale and receiving CPR and an AED shock within the first few minutes are the most critical.

Sports fans and football players at Northam’s Henry Street Oval are now much safer thanks to CBH Group and Western Australian grain growers’ Harvest Mass Management Scheme (HMMS).

Inspired by Wade Hunter’s cardiac arrest survival story, CBH has distributed funds from the scheme towards a publicly accessible Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which sits metres from the Henry Street Oval and can be accessed 24/7 using a lock box code supplied by dialling Triple Zero (000).

In July 2023, the father and footy player pulled on his Federals guernsey and jogged onto the oval for what he thought would be just another home game.

But in the second quarter, Wade collapsed from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Sadly, only one in 10 people who experience OHCA live to tell the tale and receiving CPR and an AED shock within the first few minutes are the most critical.

It was thanks to the actions of quick-thinking bystanders and a nearby registered AED, Wade survived.
“It’s very important to have an AED near the oval because it can be used on anyone at any time; it could be a spectator watching the game or even a passerby,” Wade said.

“I think it’s great for our local sporting community to have one.”

The AED which saved Wade belonged to the Northam Recreation Centre office and wasn’t accessible 24/7.

Since 2012, HMMS funds have delivered 145 St John WA (SJWA) defibrillators across the grain growing region – which has ensured almost 60 per cent of AEDs in the Wheatbelt are accessible 24/7.

CBH Head of Health, Safety and Environment Tim Manning said having a publicly accessible defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death in regional communities.

“Every second counts in a cardiac emergency and through the Harvest Mass Management Scheme, WA grain growers are helping to make vital AED equipment like this more accessible in regional communities,” he said.

“We’re proud to support this initiative and hope this AED provides peace of mind for the Northam community, knowing that lifesaving help is close by when it’s needed most.”

SJWA Social Sustainability Manager Angel Robins said Northam sub centre was one of the regional leaders for ensuring the community, in co-ordination with Shire of Northam, had 24/7 accessible AEDS on the State Defibrillator Network.

“Now Northam Recreation Centre users and football players have the reassurance of knowing an AED is close to hand in a cardiac arrest emergency and it is all thanks to donated funds from grain growers,” she said.

More than 10,000 registered defibrillators across the state are listed on the State Defibrillator Network and can be found on the St John First Responder app.

Other CBH donated AEDs have been installed with the help of the Shire at the:

• Bilya Koort Boodja Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge
• Bert Hawke Oval Pavilion
• Northam State Emergency Service building
• Noongar Land Enterprise on Great Eastern Highway, Burlong