THE life of a surfer who collapsed after an apparent heart attack at the Crescent Head Malibu Classic last Friday was saved by a quick-thinking fellow surfer, and the defibrillator donated to the local community by the Malibu Club.
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This is the second life known to have been saved by the device, with the first occurring just hours after the device had been handed over by the Malibu Club in November 2012.
The 65-year-old man had just completed surfing his heat and was returning his vest to the judging table when he collapsed.
Malibu Club member Brad Taylor, who is a nurse at Kempsey Hospital, quickly recognised the seriousness of the man’s condition.
He began CPR while the defibrillator was fetched from the Holiday Park office.
It is kept at the Crescent Head Holiday Park office where it is available 24 hours a day.
Another defibrillator is kept at the Kempsey-Crescent Head Surf Club headquarters but it is not always available if the clubhouse is unattended.
Malibu Club secretary Barry Standing said it was an incredible scene when the surfer collapsed.
“The man was obviously in a lot of trouble because he dropped without warning and he was instantly a purple colour,” Mr Standing said.
“Brad went to work on him straight away and it only took two minutes to fetch the defibrillator.
“When he shocked him back into life it was quite amazing.”
The man was transported to John Hunter Hospital where he was reported to be in a stable condition after surgery to repair blocked arteries in his heart.
