By Tara Murray
Defib For Life started in 2010 following the death of Stephen Buckman after he had a sudden cardiac arrest while at football training at Rupertswood.
There was no defibrillator at the club and Buckman died after arriving at hospital despite CPR attempts, with the nearest ambulance 22 minutes away.
It led to the push to have defibrillators placed in sporting clubs across the state, with Rupertswood among the first of those locations.
On Anzac Day, an East Sunbury reserves player Kane North collapsed after a contest early in his side’s game against Rupertswood at that same ground.
Quick action was taken by trainers of both sides with trainers using a defibrillator to save his life.
North doesn’t remember any of the day.
While he has a long journey ahead of him, he is out of hospital on the road to recovery.
“I’m good now,” he said. “I’m a lot better and I have to take care of myself and slow down a little bit.
“I have a three week plan to get back to getting into exercise. Honestly, I’m just happy to be here.”
North said it was a traumatic experience for his partner and family, who were there to witness the drama unfold.
One of his mates started giving him mouth to mouth.
“It was amazing how many people were there to help,” he said. “I thank everyone who helped.
“My dad went down to Rupertswood and thanked everyone. I’m still getting names of everyone involved to thank them.”
North, who is 37, said it would be the end of his football career, saying he needed an excuse to hang up the boots.
For Defib for Life co-founder Andrew White hearing about the medical episode on Anzac Day brought back memories.
An off duty paramedic, he was at Rupertswood the day Buckman died, and gave him CPR.
“It happened at our club nearly 15 years to the day, when Stephen passed away,” he said
“A lot of the old [Defib for Life] committee members were there and they witnessed that, for them to witness that and what we had achieved, it was really significant
“Some of the old committee members said they had chills down their spine.
“We formed this committee 15 years ago to avoid these circumstances and they were able to save this person this time.”
White started Defib for Life with Stephen’s mum, Sue Buckman, in the memory of Stephen.
They said they didn’t want any other family to go through what the Buckman’s had.
“Seeing people die due to sudden cardiac arrest due being a paramedic, I knew the only ones we could save were the ones we got to quickly and were able to put on a defibrillator shortly after the cardiac arrest,” said White.
“A lot of lives have been saved with the defibrillators.“
North has already spoken to White and said he was keen to help wherever he can to help save other lives.
When Defib For Life started, the group understand only three to five per cent of football clubs had defibrillators in Victoria. White said now that number was more than 90 per cent.
White said they wanted the AFL to ensure that every football club in Australia has a defibrillator.
It’s something North and East Sunbury support too.
“There should be a policy that a game doesn’t start if there is no defibrillator,” White said. “Anyone can have a cardiac arrest. “
