A sunny day at Big Bay beach on Sunday (12 May) turned tragic as a daring rescue attempt by vigilant surfers and lifeguards ended in heartbreak. Despite their valiant efforts, a beachgoer was declared deceased by paramedics.
The Big Bay Surf Lifesaving Club says at 12:48 on Sunday, two SA Team Lifesavers were alerted to a situation happening out the back at Big Bay Beach.
“They paddled out and upon arriving they found two surfers holding an unconscious and non breathing patient.”
They signalled to the shore they required resuscitation and proceeded to get the patient onto the rescue board.
“Once they got the patient onto the board they surfed in and carried the patient to the shoreline where fellow lifeguards were waiting with a spinal board.”
Lifeguards carried the patient up to the high-water mark where they did their steps for compressions whilst the rest of the team called emergency services, attached the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and administered rescue breathes.
“After 30 minutes of CPR the first paramedic arrived who then attached her own AED and other life saving equipment, from which the firefighters joined into the CPR cycle whilst the paramedics did everything they could to give the patient the best chance at resuscitation.”
Efforts
Just before they reached an hour of compressions, the paramedics declared the patient deceased.
“We would like to send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the patient and would like to assure them that we did everything we could to give the patient the best chances. Thank you to all the paramedics, police officers, firefighters and all the other agencies for helping to give this patient the best chances of survival.”
“We would also like to thank every single lifeguard and parent who was able to stay long enough to assist us in the situation, from those who administered breathes to those who cut the suits to those who looked after our bags whilst we were all busy. Without you all, we would have never been able to give the patient the best care possible.”
