GoodSAM responder saves a life
Thanks to the GoodSAM program and a fantastic team effort, Ferdinand Diocales survived a cardiac arrest at Sydney Airport.
The morning of 26 November 2023 started off like any other at Terminal 1 in Sydney Airport’s international departure area.
Ferdinand Diocales, his wife, and son were at the airport on their way home to the Philippines.
Their day took an unexpected turn when, before checking in, Ferdinand went to find a toilet.
When his family realised Ferdinand hadn’t returned, they went looking for him and found he had gone into cardiac arrest.
Dane Henderson, who had recently joined GoodSAM, was working at Sydney Airport when he received a GoodSAM notification.
“I was with my colleagues in the Australian Federal Police station, which is just across the road from Terminal 1. My colleague and I ran over to the terminal and found the patient, who was in cardiac arrest, in front of one of the cafes.”
“A cafe staff member and a customer who was at the café had already started CPR and had found a defibrillator located near the airport cafe.
“My colleague and I jumped in and took over the CPR. After ten minutes, the emergency crew from Aviation Fire Rescue (Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service, ARFF) arrived and continued CPR. Shortly afterwards, NSW Ambulance paramedics from Kogarah arrived on the scene and took over.
“By the time we arrived, Ferdinand’s heart had started beating, but he wasn’t conscious,” said Paramedic Jodie Anderson.
“The early CPR and defibrillation were the key. Without that, he wouldn’t have survived.
“It was also a really good example of multiple groups of people, who don’t normally work with each other, coming together,” Jodie said.
The GoodSAM app connects volunteers to nearby patients in the critical first minutes of a cardiac arrest until paramedics arrive. Becoming a GoodSAM volunteer requires no qualifications.
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