One night in August of this year, father and husband Andrew Breen thought nothing of his evening, taking himself to bed next to partner Natalie, with their two daughters, Danika and Maddy, also at home.

"I went to bed at about 10.30 at night, and woke up at about 2 o'clock the next afternoon at RPA with my wife telling me that my heart stopped in my sleep." said Andrew.

Natalie recalls the frightening moment she discovered the startling and unexpected symptoms of her husband. "It was about 1.30 in the morning and I thought he was snoring, so like I hit him because I was like 'shut up', but when I pushed him I realised he wasn't normal," she said.

Natalie, who receives yearly CPR training through her workplace quickly recognised the significance of Andrews signs and symptoms, and immediately jumped into action.

"I'd rolled him over, and I hit him really hard, trying to rouse him, and he actually came to," Mrs Breen said.

"He said 'I don't know what's going on, I'm scared', and then he turned blue."

After calling out for assistance from their two daughters, Danika and Maddy quickly entered the daunting scene, assessing the gravity of the situation. The two got to action aiding their mother in providing life-saving care for their father, understanding they’re in a race against time.

After calling 000, the family sprang into action and followed the instructions of the operator. Danika was tasked by preparing their family property for the paramedics to arrive on scene, while her sister Maddy, who had completed two first aid and CPR courses with St John Ambulance—most recently within the last 12 months—joined her mother to administer life-saving CPR to Andrew.

"So, I started CPR I think ... and then I got tired so Maddy stepped in and she did CPR," Mrs Breen said. The paramedics arrived shortly after and took over from Natalie and Maddy.

"They said it was a code blue, and then they put the defib on. I think they shocked him twice, from what I can remember," Mrs Breen said.

In a race against time, Mr Breen was swiftly loaded into the ambulance and rushed to Bathurst Hospital. There, doctors determined that Andrew would need to be airlifted to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney for the critical care he required.

Mrs. Breen credits her husband's survival to CPR training, quick thinking, their two daughters, and the swift efforts of the paramedics who came to his aid.

"I'm thankful for my girls, because I don't think I would have been able to do it by myself," she said.

 

 

Mr. Breen doesn’t fit the usual profile of someone who suffers from cardiac arrest. As a fit, healthy, and active father of two, Andrew was the last person anyone would expect to experience it. Following numerous tests at the hospital, it was revealed that although Mr. Breen’s heart was healthy, he had an undiagnosed genetic condition that temporarily affected its rhythm during Andrews sleep, consequently causing his cardiac arrest.

This is why Mr. Breen, along with his wife Natalie and their two daughters, Danika and Maddy, have chosen to raise awareness about the importance of CPR training.

In collaboration with the St John Ambulance Drive-a-thon, the Breen family wanted to support the organisation’s nationwide initiative, hoping that sharing their story will raise awareness, save lives, and empower communities across Australia.

The Drive-a-thon team made a stop in Bathurst, the Breen family's hometown, where they met with the family and invited Dr. Ross, a St John volunteer and the primary doctor who helped Mr. Breen during his recovery. Together, they are sharing their story to highlight the importance of quick intervention and having the confidence to take immediate action. By sharing their story, together they attribute quality CPR and quick defibrillation as a critical step in saving Mr. Breen’s life.

 

 

It's recommended that Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training is refreshed every 12 months and Provide First Aid is completed every three years. This is in line with the Safe Work Australia First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice.

Having the confidence to perform CPR effectively can make the difference between life and death. While no one expects to encounter a medical emergency, St John Ambulance has over 140 years of experience in providing first aid training, empowering communities with the knowledge and confidence to respond when it matters most.

Whether you prefer online learning, face-to-face training at one of our 40+ NSW venues, or having one of our expert trainers come to your workplace, there are multiple ways to refresh your CPR skills today.

Give yourself and those around you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re prepared—refresh your CPR training today with St John Ambulance: HERE

 

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Original story published: HERE