A Healesville Family couldn’t hide the tears when they had an emotional reunion with the lifesavers of their father on Father’s Day, Sunday 3 September.
It was on 18 June when Bryde McNamara, father of three, suddenly suffered a cardiac arrest on his way back home from work.
He was out of consciousness and crashed into a building at Healesville High School.
“I was told that I left work, but I don’t remember driving or the accident,” Mr McNamara said as reported by 7News.
His family heard the crash and rushed to help, with his son Charlie calling Triple Zero (000).
“We heard a big crashing noise and looked out the window and saw a lot of smoke coming from the school so we ran outside,” Charlie said as reported by 7News.
“I was like, ‘oh my gosh that’s dad’. So I go back inside and find mum’s phone and I called triple-0.”
Bryde’s wife Jess and a bystander started CPR before paramedics arrived on the scene.
“His family were doing an incredible job performing CPR so we got them to continue, which was a massive help for us,” Paramedic Joscelyn Roberts said.
Paramedics and CFA crews arrived on the scene shortly and worked together to save Mr McNamara.
“The school oval was a great resource for the Ambulance Victoria helicopters. They were delivering blood and I was assisting in pumping the blood into Bryde,” Healesville Fire Brigade volunteer Graeme Bates said.
“SES and CFA worked together to secure the wall of the building so the bricks wouldn’t collapse.
“There was a lot happening and it was a great multi-agency effort.”
Bryde was flown to The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
After two weeks in hospital, Bryde was able to return home.
McNamara’s Family met with his first responders (paramedics, CFA and SES members) on Father’s Day.
The whole family expressed their heartfelt gratitude.
“I have so much love for all of these people,” Mrs McNamara said.
“We are so grateful that we still have him here.
“It’s such a blessing.”
