St Leonards Grandfather Thanks His Heroes

A St Leonards grandfather who died three times on the way to hospital has given his heartfelt thanks to the paramedics who saved his life.

Seventy-five-year-old Brendan McDaid was at home last August when he suddenly experienced chest pain out of the blue.

"I didn't have any warning signs, it was just a sudden tightness in my chest," Mr McDaid said

"We decided we better call an ambulance, and we're so thankful they arrived within minutes."

Paramedics determined that Mr McDaid was having a heart attack and started transporting him to hospital.

While on the road, Mr McDaid's condition deteriorated rapidly, his heart stopping multiple times.

The Advanced Life Support (ALS) crew performed CPR and shocked his heart twice while waiting for Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics to arrive.

By the time MICA Paramedic Michael Walker arrived, Mr McDaid had regained a pulse.

"I was hopeful of a good outcome because the crew had already seen such a profound improvement by the time I arrived," Mr Walker said.

"By the time we got to hospital, Brendan had regained consciousness, which was a very promising sign that he would survive."

Mr Walker and ALS paramedic Chris Wilkinson were delighted to reunite with Brendan and his family almost a year on from his cardiac arrest.

"It was wonderful to see Brendan doing so well," Mr Walker said.

"His story shows that if you are feeling any sort of pains in the chest, don't delay in calling us for advice.

"If he had gone into cardiac arrest at home, his chance of survival would have been much lower."

Mr McDaid said he was "eternally grateful" to the paramedics and University Hospital Geelong staff who saved his life.

"We have nothing but praise for all of the health professionals who cared for me," he said.

"I owe my life to them."

Every day, around 20 Victorians suffer a cardiac arrest but only one in 10 survive.

Early intervention is critical with survival decreasing by 10 per cent every minute CPR is delayed.