By David Nagel
Having a nervous twitch on the first tee is pretty much par for the course, but a massive heart attack – well that’s taking stroke play to a whole new level.
It happened at the Garfield Golf Club earlier this month when two brothers, two recently signed up members, prepared for their Sunday round of golf.
It was 7.30am when clubhouse manager Kevin Whitmore realised something was horribly wrong.
“I just heard these screams to call an ambulance, there was a bloke down on the first tee, and he was having a heart attack so we all had to think pretty quickly,” Mr Whitmore said.
“I rang the ambulance and they told me to stay on the phone while the man’s brother was performing CPR. I showed another man where the defibrillator was, he brought that out and wired him up and gave him a zap and he pretty much came back to life. He started moving his legs a bit and he came good.”
Several factors saved the man in his early sixties, who wishes to remain nameless, from certain death, but one was critical.
Just he and his brother were on the first tee, but behind them were 20 members of the Cadbury Social Golf Club, and one of them had used a defibrillator before.
“He swears that it was the defib that saved his life because no one could feel a pulse on him and there was no breathing, no sign of life at all,” Mr Whitmore said.
“The two ambulances came from Pakenham and took about 20 minutes to get here. One was a normal ambulance and one a MICA (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance) and they pretty much gave us the same feedback.”
Mr Whitmore said the defibrillator, which was purchased in a joint venture with the Bunyip and District Community Bank Branch of the Bendigo Bank, had more than made up for its purchase cost.
“We’ve had it for about three years now, and it’s gone out of its cage about three times but has never been used until now,” he said.
“We’ve lent it to the school a couple of times, but this is the first time we’ve unwrapped it and physically used it. It’s basically idiot proof, it talks to you and tells you what to do, where to put the patches and when to stand back when it’s about to zap the patient so you don’t get zapped yourself.”
The Bunyip and District Community Bank is playing a lead role in making these life-saving machines available to their local communities. The bank originally purchased eight defibrillators which were installed in the centre of towns such as Bunyip, Garfield, Maryknoll, Nar Nar Goon and Tynong and has since paid fully and been involved in several joint ventures with community groups from around the region.
Branch manager Sue Dubbeld said it felt great that the bank’s investment, both monetarily and in the community, was helping to save lives.
“It certainly does, it’s great if they don’t get used, but if one can save a life every 10 years it makes it extremely worthwhile,” she said.
“We’re so happy to be involved in this wonderful community initiative. There’s just no figure you can put on saving a life.”
Mrs Dubbeld said those interested in purchasing a defibrillator should contact the Bunyip and District Community Bank, who also distribute grants for other worthy causes.
Mr Whitmore said the saga at Garfield has had a happy ending.
“The man’s brother came back on Sunday and thanked everyone, and the latest we know is that the man is recovering well in hospital,” he said.
“The defibrillator worked that well that he was making jokes and still had his golf ball and tee in his hands when he woke up. Someone tried to take his ball and he said ‘no mate, that’s my Callaway.”
And the Cadbury boys?
“Well they weren’t happy, they had to hit off the ladies tees.”
