Thanks to a group of dedicated medical professionals and volunteers, a life-threatening event for one Royal Victoria Marathon runner became a moment of hope and perseverance.
On October 13th, a runner suffered cardiac arrest during the 8-kilometre Royal Victoria Marathon, and what followed was a remarkable display of teamwork and quick action that ultimately led to the runner’s recovery.
Upon the runner’s collapse during the race, a group of bystanders were the ones to quickly spot what was happening, and immediately alerted nearby medical personnel.
Multiple teams stepped in, including St. John Ambulance, bike squads, paramedics and volunteer physicians, who acted swiftly with life-saving measures such as CPR and the use of a defibrillator to restart the runner’s heart.
This well-coordinated team were successful in resuscitating the individual, who was rushed to hospital for further assessment and care.
According to a St. John Ambulance media release, they confirmed that the runner has made a full recovery.
Kelly McNeill-Sproxton, Director of Marketing and Community Services at St. John Ambulance expressed her pride in the team’s response.
“This incredible life-saving moment highlights exactly why we do what we do. Because our volunteers were onsite, they were able to respond immediately when every second mattered,” McNeill-Sproxton said.
“Moments like this remind us of the powerful impact that a prepared, trained community can have.”
To honor the heroic efforts of those involved, a special ceremony will be held on November 27th at 6:30 p.m. at the Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Centre (Room 150).
This ceremony will celebrate not only the St. John Ambulance and BCEHS teams but also Victoria Fire Department responders and the dedicated ER and cardiology staff at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
Their collective efforts made all the difference in a moment where every second counted.
