Grandfather’s life saved by the same man twice
A Perth grandfather has had his life saved twice by the same man.
Geoff Fisher, 70, and Dr Robert Larbalestier were swimming at HBF Stadium in 2009 when he began feeling dizzy.
Mr Fisher, then aged 62, said he couldn’t remember anything and collapsed. His heart had stopped pumping and since he didn’t have a defibrillator he was on the brink of death for more than half an hour.
But Dr Larbalestier, a CPR-trained nurse and another emergency physician refused to give up on him and managed to save his life.
Dr Larbalestier, director of cardiothoracic surgery at Fiona Stanley Hospital, said any out of hospital cardiac arrests are “about as bad as it can get”.
Mr Fisher said he felt “extremely lucky” to survive.
“You know, at what stage do you give up trying CPR?” he said.
“It was 40 to 45 minutes for various reasons and it’s hard work.”
Mr Fisher’s damaged heart was never the same. He eventually needed a defibrillator or pacemaker fitted.
It hasn’t been smooth sailing either, Mr Fisher said on night his defibrillator went off “15 times in a row”.
So, earlier this year Mr Fisher decided to undergo a heart transplant and Dr Larbalestier, his guardian angel, was there for him again.
The doctor used his extraordinary skills during hours of surgery to give Mr Fisher his third chance at life.
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“I’ve had my ups and downs in life when things have been tough,” Dr Larbalestier said.
“Geoffrey has been one of those people who’s been there for me.”
When asked if there was any doubt he would be the one performing the surgery on Mr Fisher, Dr Labalestier jokingly responded, “Yes”.
“I take holidays, you know. I’m not always in town,” he said.
