A MAN saved by strangers after he suffered a heart attack while running at Torquay has made an emotional plea to find them so he can thank them.
Sean Purcell says a lung infection caused his heart to stop as he ran along Whites Beach nine months ago.
“I was kept alive for 25 minutes by 10-plus highly-skilled strangers via CPR, before a defibrillator was sourced and started my heart again,” he posted on social media overnight.
“Twenty minutes later, the paramedics arrived and I was air-lifted to the Geelong Hospital.
“I was placed in a coma for five days and my wife and family were told that if I woke up, I would be suffering high-end brain damage.
“It’s now nine months on and I have made a full recovery. I have 100 per cent brain function, I am training again and working full time in a job that I love.”
Mr Purcell said experts told him the chances of a person surviving a cardiac arrest, experiencing cardiac death and being revived via CPR were less than 3 per cent.
“To the people on the beach that morning: you saved my life, and I wake every single day and thank God that you were there for me,” he said.
“I have not met any of you and I want to.
“I understand your reluctance to step forward, but I would like to thank you face to face for changing the course of my families lives as a result of your selfless act.
“Because of you my children still have their Dad, my parents still have their son and my wife still has her husband.”
Mr Purcell has asked his stranger saviours to inbox me on Facebook, phone or email him. He can be contacted on 0475 037 839 or at sean.purcell@cottononfoundation.org
