On Tuesday, August 1, Cowra Woolworths Store Manager Steve Burns performed lifesaving CPR on a 62-year-old man, who had collapsed in the store and suffered a cardiac arrest. 

David Patterson, Station Officer NSW Ambulance Cowra, said the quick-thinking actions of Steve and bystanders saved the man’s life. 

“There were a number of other bystanders who were instrumental in assisting with CPR,” he said. 

“Those efforts were absolutely crucial and lifesaving to sustain life, it allows us to do what we need to do.

“NSW Ambulance is always thankful and appreciative of the efforts that the public provides us in these sorts of cases.”

Paramedics arrived on the scene three minutes after receiving the call out and within twenty minutes, they had recovered vital signs after applying the chain of survival, which includes early CPR and early defibrillation. 

“We initiated all those at the scene with a successful result, we managed to get a pulse back and spontaneous breathing which is a very, very good sign,” he said. 

“That was only after about ten minutes of intense effort and following that, we had specialist cardiology consultation via mobile phone only 20 minutes after his initial collapse which is, its certainly world class.” 

The patient was then transported to Cowra Hospital for further treatment. 

“He was then transported from the scene to Cowra Hospital for further stabilisation,” David said. 

“Prior to transport from the scene, the state air and medical retrieval service had been advised and they immediately dispatched the Orange helicopter to Cowra and they subsequently transferred him from Cowra to Orange Health Service.” 

David said it is the second time that Steve has administered CPR which resulted in saving the life of a patient. 

“It is my understanding that this is the second time in about two years that’s he provided CPR and it’s absolutely proved the difference with these patients,” he said.