When 19-year-old Ned’s first job for that Tuesday morning was postponed, and he was moved to a following job, little did he know he was going to save someone’s life that day. 

On that day in October 2024, John, a well-known local artist and podiatrist from Shepparton, suddenly went into cardiac arrest at home. His wife called for help, and Ned rushed in to find John unconscious and not breathing. 

“I grabbed the phone from the tradies outside who were speaking to the ambulance operator,” Ned recalls. “When they told me to start CPR, I just went straight into it. I kept going for more than five minutes until the ambulance arrived.” 

That quick action gave John the chance he needed to survive. 

John says it wasn’t just Ned’s skills, but his confidence that made the difference. “Ned knew what to do, and he didn’t hesitate. He took control, started CPR and showed others around him that they could help too. That confidence turned a terrible situation into one with hope, and I’m here today because of it.” 

John doesn’t remember much of what happened on that morning. He recalls that he was admiring his just renovated shower, and thinking to himself how it was looking nice, when everything went black. His heart stopped and he collapsed on the ground.  

He was told by the doctors later that survival rates for what he went through are very low.  

“A lot of people might know a little bit about CPR, but they are not confident to do it. Ned’s confidence in stepping forward to do it, was the difference between life and death.” 

Ned had done three first aid courses previously, but it was the one he had through his school, Rochester Secondary College, that taught him how to perform CPR. “They taught us how to do CPR on the dummy, but that was very different than doing it on a real person. It felt weird but I knew what to do. The instincts took over.” 

Since then, Ned was confronted with another situation where he nearly had to perform CPR again while in a local pub where someone experienced a heart attack. 

But he can’t stress enough the importance of knowing first aid. “I 100% recommend young people to learn first aid and CPR. It’s one of the most important things you can learn and not very hard to do. Anyone can do it, and I think that everyone should do it.” 

Why CPR Confidence is Crucial 

Research shows 42% of Australians don’t feel comfortable providing CPR if they were faced with an emergency. That means almost half of people might hesitate to act when every second counts. 

At St John, we believe that everyone should have the skills and confidence to step in. As CEO Gordon Botwright explains, “Ned’s story shows exactly why CPR training matters. It’s not just about knowing the steps, it’s about feeling confident enough to act when it really counts.” 

More Victorians Trained, More Lives Saved 

Ned has since been recognised with a First Aid Champion Award for his bravery and quick thinking. But he remains humble: “Receiving the award is a real honour,” Ned says. “But honestly, the most important thing is that John is still here.” 

Stories like this remind us why St John is on a mission to ensure more Victorians are trained in CPR and first aid. Whether at home, at work, or in the community, knowing how to respond can mean the difference between life and death. 

Want to learn CPR? Explore St John’s accredited training courses and gain the confidence to act when it matters most.