Son's CPR skills save dad's life

Nick Crellin knew exactly what he needed to do when his dad collapsed in the early hours of April 14 last year. The then-15-year-old squeezed through the bathroom door where his father was lifeless on the floor, checked his pulse and started CPR. For at least six minutes Nick performed CPR on his own until help arrived. Dr Andrew Crellin didn't even realise his son knew CPR - the action that saved his life. Eighteen months after his heart stopped for 29 minutes, Dr Crellin is back at work in the emergency department at Ballarat Hospital. "It's a relatively simple skill that can make a massive difference. For me the difference was surviving and being able to return to work verses not surviving at all without CPR," he said. "Nick and the other kids had had CPR training through their swimming school. I didn't know prior that any of the kids had been taught CPR." Few people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside hospital survive. Nick performed CPR on his own for at least six minutes until a nearby paramedic responded to an alert on the GoodSam app. They continued to work on Dr Crellin as first responder firefighters arrived, then paramedics, who finally got his heart started with a defibrillator 29 minutes after it had gone in to full arrest. He had had a small heart attack adjacent to his cardiac conducting system, which triggered an arrhythmia. He spent about 10 days in intensive care, and after a few days in a general ward was sent to Melbourne for rehabilitation. His only ongoing concern is fatigue. Dr Crellin has returned to work, having performed non-clinical duties for most of this year but is in the midst of returning to clinical duties. Nick's experience has given him a passion to ensure as many people know CPR as possible. This month he organised Ambulance Victoria officers to come and train his Ballarat Clarendon College classmates in CPR, and impressed upon them how important it is to know how to save a life. "The ambulance officers did a couple of demonstrations at school, and some people joined in and were able to show what they had learned," Nick said. "Most of my friends didn't know CPR so it was really good and I heard from a couple of students they really enjoyed it - it's important for everyone to know. "We also learned about dealing with an emergency, information for older kids who can get involved in doing CPR, and certain apps that can also help." YOU MIGHT LIKE: Cape Clear's Mackay family are raising funds to buy a defibrillator not just for their daughter, but for the community Since their close brush with death, the Crellin family have also arranged CPR training for Redan Football Club, and been part of Restart the Heart Day as well as advocating for the GoodSam app. "I'm a strong advocate for anyone who capable of doing CPR, learning how to do it," Dr Crellin said. Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.

Eighteen months ago, Andrew Crellin's heart stopped for 29 minutes. His teenage son saved his life

Michelle Smith

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