2007 Awardees — Royal Life Saving Western Power Bravery Awards
Awardees: Cade Eglington of Mt Hawthorn, Ruben James of Mt Hawthorn
For taking the initiative to provide first aid and send for help at the first opportunity for a man who has collapsed in Doubleview. Cade Eglington and Ruben James were travelling to the beach when they saw a man fall to the ground. Cade and Ruben quickly got out of the car to help the man when he started to convulse and become incoherent. Cade and Ruben started first aid and when another pedestrian came, they sent him to call emergency services. A nurse then arrived on the scene and took over from the boys.
Awardee: Chloe Devenny of Rockingham
For demonstrating courage and quick thinking to pull her unconscious sister out of a spa and begin resuscitation. Chloe Devenny noticed that her younger sister was trapped under water in the family spa. She then pulled her from the water on to the verandah and began resuscitation from what she had learned on a cartoon television show. Molly regained consciousness minutes later when their father took over. Through Chloe’s immediate actions, Molly has been able to make a full recovery
Awardee: Gavin Ebbs of Kardinya
For demonstration of an act of resuscitation on an unconscious individual in March 2005. With the assistance of a passing driver on Sommerville Drive in Winthrop, Gavin Ebbs provided life saving intervention in the form of CPR to the individual on the ground. Despite the wait for paramedics to arrive, Gavin provided CPR in conjunction with the passing driver. Paramedics congratulated both Gavin and the passing driver on their efforts.
Awardee: Ella Catanach of Bayswater
For demonstrating outstanding judgement to initiate a well planned rescue of a teenage boy caught in a rip. Ella Catanach retrieved a board and proceeded off shore towards the boy where she used the board as a flotation device and provided instructions to the boy in trouble. She passed the board to the boy and assisted him back to the shore. Despite failed attempts by others to help him, Ella actions were instinctive and she used her skills and knowledge to execute a safe and effective rescue.
Awardees: Bruce Williams of Guildford, Peter Kilsby of Forrestfield, Phil Parry of Dudley Park, Darren Stanley
For applying first aid and showing outstanding judgment when assisting to help two people trapped inside an overturned road train outside of Eneabba. Bruce Williams, Darren Stanley, Peter Kilsby and Phil Parry were the first on the scene of the accident. They climbed into the cab and pulled out the passenger only then to discover the driver’s hand was pinned under. They then removed the windscreen for better airflow and easy access for when the emergency services arrived. First aid was then administered to the driver and the services crew warned oncoming traffic of the danger and used a spill kit to contain a petrol leak. Bruce, Darren, Peter & Phil went beyond the call of duty to secure the scene and assist the injured passengers. They utilised foresight and quick thinking to assist the victims in any way possible.
Awardee: Sean Badani of Bedfordale
For the successful resuscitation of a patient, who suffered a heart attack during swimming. Sean took control of the situation immediately and performed CPR on the patient with the assistance of others. The patient was extremely unwell and vomited several times during the resuscitation effort. On his departure to the hospital, the prognosis of the patient was poor, however he later made a full recovery with no effects following the trauma of the incident. Sean utilized his skills in an effective manner and assisted greatly, to the recovery of the patient
Awardee: Ryan Day of Kiara
Ryan assisted in the rescue and resuscitation of a patient who suffered a heart attack while swimming. Ryan was on duty and provided assistance in the retrieval and landing of the patient prior to the commencement of resuscitation. The patient was very unwell and his prognosis was poor upon departure for the hospital. Ryan’s actions were a significant part of the successful recovery of the patient who does not suffer any side effects from the incident.
Awardee: James Buchanan of Bayswater
For demonstration of outstanding judgement throughout a difficult ordeal in which he was forced off a sinking boat approximately nine kilometres from the coast. The boat which the group was fishing on was overturned and the group stayed with the boat until it sank. James and the group were in the water for approximately fifteen hours and were exposed to three metre swells. James remained positive and led the team while they were in the water. James’s judgement and actions were outstanding under the circumstances and he displayed exceptional composure
Awardee: Mike Latsky of Marmion
For demonstration of exceptional judgement and an extremely advanced level of skills in executing a swift and effective rescue of three swimmers. Mike Latsky saw that the three swimmers were caught in a strong rip and required assistance. He initiated immediate action to assist the two swimmers clinging to the end of a two hundred foot line of buoys leading from the beach and landed them separately. By the time he was able to rescue the third swimmer who had drifted further out to sea, Mike was unable to see him because he was disappearing below the surface and was in severe trouble. Mike was finally able to locate him and swim him back through the current to safety where all three swimmers recovered from the ordeal. Mike used an advanced level of skills and knowledge to produce an unlikely and favourable outcome as a direct result of his actions.
More info on the bravery awards and how to nominate
The RLSSA is an advocate for the adage ‘prevention is better than a cure’ and in formulating interventions, the focus is education and behavioural change. Consequently a key objective of the RLSSA is to ensure Western Australian's recognise and have the ability to perform a basic aquatic rescue and possess resuscitation skills/competence as an essential life skill. In Western Australia this is particularly critical as our climate, lifestyle and access to waterways encourages high levels of participation and exposure.
A key strategy in achieving this objective is the recognition of aquatic rescue and resuscitation events. Royal Life Saving believes that acknowledgement of the selfless effort by a member of the community to attempt an aquatic rescue and resuscitate is essential for the act to be reconciled by the person as the appropriate action.
A secondary strategy is the presentation of awards. The presentation of the award will create awareness of incidents where possessing the knowledge and skills of aquatic rescue and resuscitation can save lives. |
