A close call for Busselton man with cardiac condition

Busselton local Annie Evans-Pascoe has thanked the Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA) for coming to the aid of her husband after his heart stopped multiple times, causing him to experience sudden blackouts.

Annie was preparing to take her son to school one morning when her husband and fly-in fly-out mine worker Rodney, who was home for the week, randomly started feeling faint and showing signs of mild disorientation and mental confusion.

“I told him to rest on the lounge and my plan was to take him to the chemist to check his blood pressure straight after the school drop-off,” Annie said.

“While we were on the way to school he suddenly passed out again in the passenger seat and I kept tapping him and asking him to wake up while trying my best to not upset my son who was in the back seat.

“He was out for about 20 seconds…and it was a long 20 seconds. When he woke up, he asked me what happened, and he was shocked when I told him he passed out!”

At the local chemist, pharmacists advised the couple to head straight to Busselton Hospital where he reported a ‘funny taste in his mouth’ before his heart again stopped.

This time he was connected to a cardiac monitor which revealed his heart had stopped for 18 seconds causing him to lose consciousness.

Doctors at Busselton Hospital determined that Rodney needed to get to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth to have a pacemaker fitted.

With Rodney’s survival hanging in the balance, Busselton Hospital called the RFDS’ 24-hour Coordination Centre at Jandakot Airport who tasked Rodney’s retrieval to Fiona Stanley Hospital as a priority patient.

“The RFDS crew were brilliant – so professional and compassionate. They came into the hospital to check on Rodney and escorted him in the ambulance to the RFDS aircraft waiting at Busselton Airport.

“I couldn’t go on the flight as I had to pick up my son from school and pack an overnight bag so as you can imagine, I was quite anxious. But the crew really took care of him and made me feel like everything was going to be okay as they loaded him onto the aircraft for the flight to Perth.

“From the moment the RFDS crew met us at Busselton Hospital, they were with Rodney all the way to Fiona Stanley Hospital and that meant a lot to us then and now.”

But Rodney was not out of the woods just yet, experiencing another blackout after being admitted to Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Annie said it was a terrifying ordeal to learn her husband had suffered four blackouts in the space of 24 hours and the relief was immense when Rodney was rolled into an operating room to have a pacemaker fitted.

“I wonder what would’ve happened if he had been at work, if he had been driving, if we had to drive to Perth, if it wasn’t for the RFDS, would I still have my husband today?” Annie said.

“What started as an ordinary day turned into a terrifying ordeal where minutes literally mattered and thanks to the RFDS, today I have my husband and my son has his father."

“We think about the ‘what ifs’ after an event like this happens and we’re just so grateful to have him today and it is with thanks to Busselton Hospital, St John Ambulance, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Fiona Stanley Hospital medical teams. 

"Sometimes I can’t help but think there is a higher power watching over us.”Every day the RFDS retrieves an average of 27 patients, putting critical time back in their hands. 

Regional patients diagnosed with cardiac-related issues is the second most common reason for retrieval by the RFDS.