Rookie Lifesaver Turned Hero

Someone cried, “can anyone do CPR?” Just hours before, 48 year old Barry Giles finished his Bronze Medallion, qualifying him as a volunteer surf lifesaver. Barry, his wife Caroline and other members of the Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club were training off duty last November when they heard the urgent plea from the waters edge.

A boogie board rider was dragging young Filipino student John Santiago from the surf as Barry rushed toward them. Kneeling over John’s lifeless body, Barry found no sign of a pulse or breathing. His recent training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was fresh on his mind as Barry realised that this was a life and death test of his skills. Barry and fellow lifesaver Robyn Jenkinson immediately started CPR at the new compression rates of 30 compressions to two breaths.

After two or three agonizing minutes, Barry felt a faint pulse. John began spluttering – he was breathing again! As Barry and Robyn worked on John, Caroline was racing to the scene with an oxy viva kit while Robyn’s husband Paul was collecting the rescue vehicle in case John had to be moved quickly. The paramedics arrived, administered oxygen to John and transferred him to ICU where, thanks to Barry, Caroline and their friends, he made a complete recovery.

Barry – this rookie lifesaver turned hero – couldn’t even swim when he moved from the UK to Australia 16 years ago. The swimming component was the toughest part of the Bronze Medallion certification process for him. Clearly, he is up to the challenge of being a lifesaver.

Today, Barry and Caroline Giles say that Surf Life Saving is the best thing that’s happened to them since moving from Brisbane to Noosa 3 years ago. They love the new lifestyle it has opened up for them and they only wish they could have been involved at an earlier age. Barry and Caroline were thrilled to receive a Christmas card from John with a note of thanks from his parents.

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