Last year, amidst the vibrant atmosphere of a concert in Sydney, a life-altering event unfolded for Oliver and his family. What began as a night of music and enjoyment took a dramatic turn when Oliver experienced a sudden cardiac arrest.

“I remember walking up to Oliver and hearing the funny rhythm on the monitor… I pulled back the curtain, looked at the monitor and realised I had to really step into the room” - Travis, Clinical Experience Officer for St John NSW

The incident was reported to St John NSW, whose trained medical personnel swiftly responded to the scene. Eric Cai, Jayde McCallie, Lisa McPhee, Melinda Nguyen, Mikaela Bourke, Alice Morrison, Angela Chen and Callum Johnston were the team to support responder Travis, whose expertise in managing airways and played a crucial role in the critical moments following Oliver's collapse.

“In under three hours, Oliver underwent a critical life-saving intervention, receiving an angiogram and undergoing stent placement following a cardiac arrest”

Thanks to the timely and skilled intervention of the St John response team, Oliver was not only able to receive critical life-saving care, but received the chance to live on to celebrate his 54th birthday alongside his family. Oliver's story is not just one of survival but also of hope, gratitude, and the enduring power of compassion in the face of adversity.

“Someone was gently tapping my face, trying to wake me up, and I remember them saying… ‘I just restarted your heart’”
- Oliver Krabbe, Cardiac Arrest Survivor

Oliver’s journey from the brink of tragedy to celebrating another year of life is a powerful testament to the importance of providing emergency medical care. St John’s ability and commitment to providing quality service is all thanks to our volunteers across the state who put themselves out there to make a difference. Join now to stand ready with us and to save lives in your communities.

“I would not be celebrating my 54th birthday today … the importance cannot be understated having people like St John’s Ambulance at big events like these”

Oliver Krabbe, Cardiac Arrest Survivor

You can watch the full video about Oliver's story here: