Firefighters who saved a captain's life after he went into cardiac arrest at the scene of a fire earlier this year have received special commendations.
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The Country Fire Authority's Spring Hill captain, Scott Selle, had turned out to assist with a caravan fire in Glenlyon on February 1.
With the fire being brought under control, the brigade's first lieutenant, Garry McKimm, recalls the captain approaching him and asking him to find a local water source to fill the trucks up.
"He then said he was feeling faint and collapsed into my arms," First Lieutenant McKimm said.
"I lowered him down to the ground and yelled out for first aid."
As some firefighters continued to fight the fire, others responded to the second emergency unfolding in front of them.
With Captain Selle unconscious, firefighters immediately sprung to action to save his life: a volunteer from Glenlyon ran to the truck and grabbed a first aid kit and defibrillator.
It was applied within a minute of the collapse and recommended a shock be applied, which revived Captain Selle.
At this point a mayday was issued requesting an ambulance, with both Daylesford and Malmsbury brigades - which had been turned around as their assistance was not needed with the fire - pivoted and rushed back towards the scene.
First Lieutenant McKimm said this was "fortuitous" as one of the members on the Daylesford pumper was an ambulance officer as well as CFA volunteer.
At this point the Spring Hill captain of about a decade stopped breathing a second time and the defibrillator recommended another shock, which brought him back to life a second time.
"We were able to maintain consciousness and breathing from there on in until the ambulance arrived and he was loaded up and taken to hospital," he said.
Acknowledging that it was "pretty intense" and a shock to see a mate of more than 15 years in such a state, he said his training kicked into gear and the defibrillator was extremely beneficial in the positive outcome.
Captain Selle believes he would not be here today if it wasn't for the actions of his fellow firefighters, as well as the multiple defibrillators at the scene.
"We actually had a number of defibrillators on scene that day which was great," he said.
"Defibrillators save lives, it's that simple. The defibrillator brought me back to life within two minutes and I'm so grateful we had them available to us."
If he had not responded to the fire he would have been working on his farm, on his own.
"If this had happened while I was working on the farm, I wouldn't be here today," Captain Selle said.
"I honestly can't thank my team-mates and paramedics enough for everything they did that day to save my life."
In response to the firefighters and paramedics who saved his life, CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan has awarded them with a CFA Commendation.
"Those firefighters were put under extreme pressure that day and I am so proud of what they have achieved," CO Heffernan said.
"A life-threatening event at any incident is tough but even tougher when it's someone in your team.
A life-threatening event at any incident is tough but even tougher when it's someone in your team.
- CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan
"The firefighters acted quickly and used their first aid skills to save Scott's life.
"The paramedics who then took over kept Scott conscious and safe on the way to hospital. It was a huge team effort from firefighters and paramedics that day and it is my great honour to present them with Commendations."
MICA Paramedic Simon James, from Ambulance Victoria, was one of those who attended and said with only one in ten people surviving a cardiac arrest, Scott was lucky.
"Scott's case shows just how important those first few minutes are. We know that if you receive CPR and a defibrillator is used, the patient's chance of surviving increases by almost 70 per cent," he said.
He encouraged everybody in the community to learn how to conduct CPR and to find out where their closest automated external defibrillator (AED) is located.
There are more than 6500 AEDs registered across Victoria, including more than 1300 with the CFA.
These do not only play an important role in the safety and protection of firefighters but also the community members at the incidents CFA responds to.
Captain Selle is now at home undertaking rehabilitation and is expected to make a full recovery.
To find the closest AED or to register a device, visit registermyaed.ambulance.vic.gov.au.
