Life lessons after cardiac arrest

Key points:

• 7,000 cardiac arrests in Victoria last year
• Bystanders performed CPR in 77% of cases before paramedics arrived
• Cardiac rehabilitation provides physical, emotional and social support

“Mentally and physically, it has been a challenge and the rehabilitation has helped with both.”

A Melbourne man, whose heart stopped during his teenage daughter’s driving lesson, wants to raise awareness of CPR, Automated External Defibrillators and the importance of rehabilitation after his life-changing cardiac arrest.

Scott Montgomery was in the back seat of the family’s car, with his 19-year-old daughter Penny, while his wife Row was supervising their 16-year-old learner driver Kate.

The family was returning from a two-week holiday in Port Fairy when Scott collapsed on the back seat.

“I remember packing up that morning and feeling very relaxed as we headed home,” Scott said.

“I apparently received a text and then called out as I slumped in the back seat.”

Row, a nurse, ordered Kate to pull over so she could check on Scott.

He was in cardiac arrest, so Row pulled him out of the car and began CPR, assisted by their daughters.

Off duty paramedic Britt Sinclair and her partner Verity Watt, who is a nurse, were driving past and saw the commotion.

“Verity and I were coming back from Port Fairy, and noticed a car pulled over to the side of the road and I thought someone was being sick,” Britt said.

“As we got closer, we realised they were doing CPR and we pulled over. I told Row I was a paramedic and I took over doing CPR while Verity called Triple Zero. A former paramedic arrived soon after to help.”

Britt asked bystanders to go to a nearby car yard that had an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

A shock from the AED returned Scott’s heart back into a normal rhythm.

“They zapped me back after 11 minutes,” Scott said.

Scott was flown by air ambulance to Geelong. He was discharged two weeks later and returned to Melbourne.

Complications set in and Scott spent a week undergoing further treatment at Epworth Richmond.

Scott has completed a six-week cardiac rehabilitation program at Epworth Camberwell.

The program provides physical, emotional and social support to help people understand their heart health and empower them to live healthy, active and fulfilling lives.

Jo Kevill, Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Coordinator, Epworth Rehabilitation said rehabilitation provides a safe space for someone, who has had a cardiac arrest to process what’s happened and their experiences.

“While it can be confronting, his strength and courage to talk about it so openly helped him and others in the group to move through the emotional journey that comes with a cardiac event and diagnosis of heart disease,” Jo said.

“Cardiac rehab is not just a gym program. Together with the information, resources and guidance provided, Scott built confidence to move forward and live an active and fulfilling life.”

Scott said rehabilitation had helped him get back to normal life with a positive attitude.

“Mentally and physically, it has been a challenge and the rehabilitation has helped with both.”

Scott is using his experience to raise awareness about the importance of CPR and AEDs. He said there was a push a couple of years ago to get AEDs into sports clubs as they clearly save lives.

About cardiac rehabilitation

Epworth Cardiac rehabilitation provides physical, emotional and social support to help people understand their heart health and empower them to live healthy, active and fulfilling lives.