Bondi Rescue have an amazing clip on YouTube of a successful resuscitation carried out by some of their off-duty lifeguards. A Japanese student, Takahiro Ono, is pulled from the water in cardiac arrest.

The lifeguards then successful resuscitate him using Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) followed by an electrical shock from a defibrillator.

Bondi Rescue CPR video

This is interesting viewing for anyone who has been on a first aid / CPR course, and a great example of first aid in action. There are several important points from this video:

> Despite the casualty being in cardiac arrest, he is still moving! As the body shuts down, it makes several last attempts at breathing (often known as the ‘death rattle’ /  agonal breathing). This can be quite off-putting for first aiders, however you should stick to your teaching. If they’re not breathing normally, start CPR.

> The teamwork of the lifeguards. Despite the seriousness of the situation, there is impeccable teamwork and everyone remains calm.

> The quick arrival of the defibrillator. The lead lifeguard asked for a defibrillator immediately after they discovered Takahiro was in cardiac arrest. Prompt access to a defibrillator will significantly increase the chances of a casualty surviving a cardiac arrest. This is all part of the Chain of Survival to help victims of sudden cardiac arrest survive. 

I’d recommend that first aid trainers definitely show this on first aid courses as it is a valuable teaching tool.

You can learn more about CPR and also try our resuscitation quiz.