Heart attack victim saved by best mates
A lucky heart attack survivor has thanked his two best mates for saving his life.
Rob Scott collapsed and stopped breathing at his Moama home two weeks ago.
His quick-thinking mates Raymond Ben and Tom Louws sprung into action to save their pal's life.
Raymond, who had only just completed a first aid course, took control.
"It felt like an eternity but it was probably only a couple of seconds before it actually kicked in and I remembered what needed to be done," he told Seven News.
The pair performed CPR on Rob for around 20 minutes until the ambulance arrived.
Doctors say it is likely Rob clinically died three times, but his mates brought him back to life.
"Time was sort of non existent when it was happening because he was there on the ground and had gone blue," Tom said.
"In training you talk about hearing ribs cracking and if you're doing that, you're doing a good job," Raymond said. "But seeing your best mate and actually feeling him underneath your hands is a different story in reality."
Rob's doctors say he had a 25 per cent chance of survival and a one per cent chance of escaping permanent brain damage.
His remarkable recovery would not have been possible without the life-saving help from his mates.
"I wouldn't be here without them, that's for sure," Rob said.
Rob now has a defibrillator wired to his heart and his cracked ribs are mending.
He hopes his experience encourages others to learn CPR.
St John's Ambulance paramedic Gonzalo Arellano said "Unfortunately, that sort of thing can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime, so it's vital you do the training."
Victoria news headlines - November 17
