App Alerts Off-Duty Nurse, Saves Dad Before His Wedding
When Alan Thomas went into cardiac arrest while driving, a new app instantly connected him with a nearby nurse who saved his life. Now Thomas will walk his daughter down the aisle, thanks to everyday heroes using the GoodSAM system.
Alan Thomas was heading to the shops for lamb roast ingredients when his heart stopped and his car rolled to a halt on a NSW road.
Paula Morched, driving home from church behind him, knew instantly something was wrong. She jumped out, turned off his car, pulled the handbrake, and asked another driver to call triple-0.
But here's where the story gets remarkable. That emergency call did more than summon an ambulance.
It triggered a notification on the phone of flight nurse Adam Waddington, who happened to be across the street. Within moments, he was performing CPR on Thomas while paramedics rushed to the scene.
Waddington uses GoodSAM, a free app that partners with NSW Ambulance to alert registered volunteers when someone nearby needs immediate CPR. When every second counts during cardiac arrest, having a trained responder arrive before the ambulance can mean the difference between life and death.
Thomas survived. Yesterday, he met the strangers who gave him his future back.
"I've been given my life back and I'll now be there to walk my daughter down the aisle," Thomas said at the reunion with Waddington and Morched.
Why This Inspires
Thomas is the 100th person saved by a GoodSAM responder in NSW, but he represents something bigger. He shows us that technology can create communities of instant helpers, ready to spring into action when tragedy strikes nearby.
The app doesn't require medical training. NSW Ambulance operators talk volunteers through chest compressions by phone, making anyone willing to help into a potential lifesaver.
Right now, 13,500 good Samaritans are registered across NSW, but health officials say more are needed. Anyone 18 or older who's willing to perform chest compressions can sign up for free.
Waddington's response was humble: "I just happened to be nearby." But his "happening to be nearby" only mattered because he'd taken one simple step, registering for an app that turns ordinary people into emergency responders.
Thomas hopes his story inspires others to join. "GoodSAM absolutely saved my life and I hope my story encourages more people to sign up so they can help someone else," he said.
One registration, a few minutes of willingness, and you could be someone's reason they make it to their daughter's wedding.
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Based on reporting by Google News - Nurse Saves
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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