The life-threatening drama began on November 10 when the 14-month-old was playing in the backyard and his mother Meimeizi was distracted for what she said felt like just a moment.
The next thing she saw was Matthew falling head first into a full water tank and when she pulled him out he was limp and unconscious.
Living close to the hospital, his parents decided to run to the emergency department with him instead of waiting for the ambulance.
The emergency department team revived the boy in three minutes, and medical officer Dr Pramod Chandru said timing played a crucial role in Matthew’s resuscitation.
“We were lucky the family lived nearby and their neighbour knew how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation),” Dr Chandru said.
“It was such a relief when we had the pulse and heard him start to cry.
“Seeing Matthew’s mother’s emotions change from distress and fear to relief really stuck with me.”
Thanking the team, Yunhua said they were forever grateful.
“Never stop watching your child. Things can happen so quickly, you may not even notice. It is important to stay vigilant to keep your babies safe,” he said.
For information on learning CPR, visit kidshealth.schn.health.nsw.gov.au.
