SUFFERING a cardiac episode on playing fields across from Riverwood Fire Station turned out to be a stroke of luck last April for Tony Danaskos with three experienced firefighters nearby, one a former paramedic, springing into action.
Unconscious and not breathing, Tony was supported by station officer Jeffrey Lay and firefighters Matthew Ward, Adam Hartup and Ian Lamp.
Former paramedic Adam operated a defibrillator on Tony and created an artificial airway, while Jeffery and Ian co ordinated efforts supplying oxygen and Matthew performed compressions.
When the medical retrieval unit arrived, Tony was put into an induced coma and taken to hospital.
Three days later, he was slowly brought out of the coma and his heart is now fine with no stents or surgery needed.
Jeffery said Tony was fortunate they were all so close by and that being a former paramedic as well, Adam was “certainly the right man for the job”.
About six weeks later Adam and Matthew reached out to Tony and his wife of 41 years, Irene, to see how he was doing and the Danaskos couple visited the fire station for a debrief over a cuppa.
“Now friends, we have stayed in touch ever since,” Adam said.
“We were so happy to hear Tony got to walk his daughter down the aisle six months later; it’s times like this that make you proud to be doing what you do.”
There were tears again last week, though, as Irene and Tony joined his rescuers again to see them among those presented with the Commissioner’s Resuscitation Award to mark St Florian’s Day – the International Day of Firefighters.
Minister for Emergency Services, Bankstown MP Jihad Dib, said firefighters put other lives before their own and he’s “incredibly proud of the people who demonstrate commitment to protecting NSW communities in times of crisis”.
“Their bravery and professionalism is extraordinary and while they don’t do it for the praise, they certainly deserve it and it’s great to see them receive that recognition,” he said.
