A nice sunny Saturday playing tennis in Wangaratta started like any other for Corowa residents Phil Dryden and Travis McDonald until it all took a tragic turn.
Whilst playing his match, Phil felt dizzy and collapsed on court, subsequently suffering a heart attack and entering cardiac arrest.
“I was playing tennis at the Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Courts on Saturday, August 31 as I play there twice a week on a Thursday and Saturday,” Phil said.
“I went to stroke the ball, felt a bit dizzy and went down to the ground unconscious.
“I basically died, and Travis ran to my aid while another person got the defib.
“Travis, Brian Scobie and Colin McKay, were the three that were helping me immediately.
“Travis worked on me, giving me CPR for 15 minutes then they gave me a shock from the defibrillator and I was brought back to life.
“Travis did such a good job, he was amazing. And the people that were on the court that I was playing, they all assisted as well.
“One was on the phone to the paramedics, another was on the defibrillator and another was calming my partner as they had to advise her that I had had a little accident on the tennis court.
“Administering CPR is very hard work. I don’t know how Travis did it for 15 minutes to tell you the truth.
“I came to and knew where I was after they gave me the jolt and Travis administered more CPR, and all I could see were all these shocked faces.
“Once the ambulance arrived, they asked me if I had any allergies. I said ‘yes, double faults!’ So I had a sense of humour.
“My CPR was done that well that it broke four ribs.
“I am pleased to have the broken ribs because it is a symbol of my second chance at life.
“Once I was well enough at the tennis courts they flew me to Bendigo from Wangaratta where I stayed for a couple of days then they transported me down to the Epworth hospital in Boxhill and there I waited a week for surgery.”
Upon the arrival of the ambulance, the paramedics told Travis that he had surely saved Phil’s life.
Travis said he instinctively kicked in to gear once he saw somebody had collapsed and knew that with some First Aid and CPR training, he had to do what he could to save Phil’s life.
“I was playing tennis when I noticed a player had collapsed on another court. I ran over and realised he'd had a heart attack and was not breathing,” Travis said.
“I have previously played against Phil and know him through the tennis fraternity. I hadn't seen Phil for some time, until we saw each other on the day of play.
“I was shocked to realise he wasn't breathing. The only thing on my mind was to not let Phil die.
“I immediately started CPR and mouth to mouth. A defibrillator was brought to the court and used, however there was still no response.
“I continued with CPR and finally I was thrilled to hear Phil take a breath.
“I had completed a First Aid / CPR course four years ago so I went straight into survival mode.”
Scarily Phil said he had had no previous risks to his health and the only real symptom he had on the day of his heart attack was feeling dizzy just before he collapsed.
“I didn’t have any risk factors in my life beforehand or symptoms on the day,” Phil said.
“I haven’t had any health issues over the last two to four years. Once all the tests were done, they found it was a blocked artery and I had a quadruple bypass.
“It was probably just a build-up of my arteries over my lifetime.
“I’m 75, I play tennis three times a week and was reasonably fit.
“Talking to the doctor, heart attacks don’t have very good outcomes. He was saying I was ‘Lucky Phil.’”
“That is now a month ago.
“I’m feeling good now. I can walk probably 300 metres, and each day I am feeling better.
“Probably after six months I will be a 65 year old man!
“I won’t be making any lifestyle changes, that’s the plan. If I can get myself back to 100% fit, I will be able to get myself back to doing what I already did.
“I am going to go to tennis this week to see and thank everyone. Especially to the immediate team that got me back up and running, because they were so quick at doing what they did, my heart hasn’t been damaged.”
Now back in Corowa both Travis and Phil shared some advice for members of the community as well as community groups and organisations about emergency medical episodes as you never know when something like this may happen.
“I strongly recommend for people to take a First Aid / CPR training course and don't hesitate to step up when required,” Travis said.
“If you know the steps to help keep someone alive, step up.
“I second the advice that everyone should know CPR. Even if they think they know it, they should do follow ups,” Phil added.
“You hope that you never have to use it, but by knowing it, you could save someone’s life.
“The other thing is, because the defib was only 40 metres away, as well as the CPR Travis was administering, it saved me.
“Every club should have one.
“I am now sitting in the sun and enjoying my second chance at life. That is only because of Travis being close by and knowing CPR, while a defibrillator was also in close supply.”
All in attendance on the day were thrilled with the great effort of everyone involved to keep Phil alive and agreed that Travis was a true hero.