Off-Duty Nurse Rushes to Save Driver in Cardiac Arrest After GoodSAM Alert
In a dramatic real-life rescue reminiscent of a superhero responding to a distress signal, an off-duty medic sprang into action to save the life of a driver suffering a heart attack. The incident unfolded one Sunday when NSW father Alan Thomas was driving to the shops to buy ingredients for a lamb roast dinner and suddenly began experiencing symptoms of a cardiac arrest.
As Thomas's car rolled to a stop, fellow driver Paula Morched, who was returning home from church, noticed something was terribly wrong. Without hesitation, Morched jumped out of her vehicle and attempted to wake Thomas. She quickly turned off his car, engaged the handbrake, and enlisted the help of another driver to call triple-0 for emergency assistance.
GoodSAM App Triggers Lifesaving Response
Simultaneously, the triple-0 call activated the GoodSAM program, a partnership with NSW Ambulance that alerts registered volunteers in the vicinity of a cardiac arrest. Off-duty flight nurse Adam Waddington, who was just across the road, received the notification on his phone and rushed to the scene.
"I just happened to be nearby," Waddington said. "Because someone had called triple-0, I was able to respond and help straight away." Before paramedics arrived, Waddington was already performing CPR on Thomas, a critical intervention that significantly improved his chances of survival.
Thomas, who survived the ordeal, was recently reunited with his saviours, Waddington and Morched. He expressed profound gratitude, stating, "I've been given my life back and I'll now be there to walk my daughter down the aisle." His recovery has been remarkable, and he is now looking forward to his daughter's wedding.
Community Heroes and the GoodSAM Program
Thomas is one of over 100 people in NSW who have been saved by local heroes responding to GoodSAM alerts. The program relies on a network of 13,500 registered volunteers, known as good Samaritans, who are willing to perform chest compressions during emergencies.
NSW Ambulance interim chief executive Clare Beech emphasized the importance of early intervention, saying, "When someone suffers a cardiac arrest outside of hospital, those first few minutes are critical and early CPR can significantly improve their chance of survival."
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park is actively encouraging more people to register for the GoodSAM app, which connects individuals in cardiac arrest with nearby lifesavers. "Alan was transported to hospital where he made a remarkable recovery and has since returned home to his family," Park noted, highlighting the program's success.
How to Become a GoodSAM Responder
The GoodSAM program is free to join, and volunteers have the choice to respond to alerts in their area. Importantly, no formal first aid or CPR training is required to become a responder.
- Volunteers must be aged 18 years or over and willing to perform chest compressions.
- Highly trained NSW Ambulance emergency medical call takers provide guidance over the phone during incidents.
- Chest compressions are straightforward to perform, making the program accessible to a wide range of community members.
Thomas hopes his story will inspire others to sign up, stating, "GoodSAM absolutely saved my life and I hope my story encourages more people to sign up so they can help someone else." The program continues to seek more volunteers to expand its lifesaving network across NSW.
