General News
20 November, 2025
Quick action leads to life-saving resuscitation
MEMBERS of the Western Victorian Axeman’s Association Inc have been praised for their lifesaving efforts after one of their own went into cardiac arrest at the Noorat Show.
Among those reacting to the incident on Saturday was Western Victorian Axeman’s Association Inc president Scott Anderson after a competitor experienced a medical episode following an event.
“We had just finished a competition and commenced presentations for that event when someone had alerted us to one of the competitors, who was sitting off to the side in his tent, had had some sort of episode,” he said.
“A few of us responded and tried to organise emergency services as quickly as possible.
“We sent a couple of people to go and retrieve the paramedics who were on the other side of the oval while David (Roberts), Dean (Lindermann) and myself got in there and got him on the ground in the recovery position while we checked him.
“I grabbed the defibrillator, got that on him and commenced that – which then checks their vitals.
“David and Dean commenced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CRP) and, luckily, there was a couple of nurses close-by who jumped in to help and were able to monitor him – they came and helped with the resuscitation and management of the airways.”
Ambulance Victoria units including the Advanced Life Support, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance and Helicopter Emergency Medical Service paramedics were all dispatched to the scene but the immediate commencement of CPR and four shocks from the defibrillator saw the man start breathing again and ultimately regain consciousness.
The man, aged in his 40s, was airlifted to University Hospital in Geelong in a serious condition but is now expected to make a full recovery.
Mr Anderson said he credits the presence of a defibrillator and training as the difference marker.
“As an association, our former secretary Ann Duryea had applied for a grant around six years ago for a defibrillator – which we’ve had at every event since then,” he said.
“We even have it at working bees and training days but we’ve never had to use it.
“We undertook training when we first received the equipment and several of our members did first aid training quite recently.
“It is something which is amazing – how much you learn which all comes back to you when those kinds of situations arise.
“I think having a defibrillator readily available at as many events as possible is a critical thing, but also the training – the more people who do first aid training because even the little things make a big difference when you’re in that situation.”
Mr Anderson extended his gratitude to all involved who united behind the life-saving effort, particularly the nurses and doctors on-scene who were quick to act.
“There were so many people willing to help and most people were there for a common good,” he said.
“The people from the Bunnings tent behind us removed the wall to their tent and erected them around the walls of our tent to give him some privacy.
“They went above and beyond doing what they could in that situation.”
Mr Anderson said he was aware of similar medical incidents which have not had such a positive result, saying he would love to see greater funding opportunities for all events and clubs to have direct access to a defibrillator.
“It is an amazing result because there have been several competitors in the past in woodchopping throughout the years who have had cardiac arrest and haven’t made it,” he said.
“The fact we had a defibrillator there, ready to go until the first responders could arrive – it was basically instantaneous which made the world of difference in this situation.
“Our big push now is, at state and national levels, hopefully we can get some funding to make sure these things are available at every event.”