Griffith paramedics are sure that if not for her father’s quick actions, 16-year-old Abbiey Enness would be dead.
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When Mark Enness’ daughter collapsed at the dinner table, the first aid training he’d received at work kicked into action.
“I thought she was choking,” Mr Enness said. “I put her in the recovery position and checked her airway and there was nothing there. She started to go blue and her eyes rolled back in her head so I started CPR.”
In the meantime, Mr Enness’ wife Trish called Triple-0 and spoke with operator Trudy Querin, who put through a call to Griffith Ambulance Station.
Paramedics Lindel Carey and Paul O’Brien were at Griffith Base Hospital when they got the call that a 15-year-old girl had collapsed and her dad was doing CPR. They arrived 11 minutes later, as did paramedics John Greenaway and Mark Seccombe.
Ms Carey took over CPR while the others attached a heart rate monitor and discovered what had happened. Despite being young and active, Abbiey was in cardiac arrest.
“It’s very rare to see a teen in cardiac arrest,” Mr O’Brien said. “In 37 years I’ve only seen one other case remotely like it.”
After three shocks from the defibrillator Abbiey’s heart started again and they rushed her to Griffith Base Hospital.
“CPR from the family can be the difference between life and death,” Ms Carey said. “Without it, you’ll have irreversible brain damage within three to six minutes.”
Mr Enness said everyone should learn basic CPR.
“I knew she’d be alright if we could just get her back,” he said. “CPR gave the paramedics the best chance to do what they do best.”