by Luke Voogt
Saving a mate’s life was reward enough for Geelong’s Matthew Buckingham, who won an Ambulance Victoria Community Heroes Award on Wednesday.
“I’m very grateful to be nominated let alone receive an award,” he said.
“But I just did it to look out for a friend at work. I’d prefer him to be alive and happy.”
Matt, 27, was at disability service agency Encompass’s Whittington furniture store in January when he realised something was wrong with fellow volunteer Bobby, then 73.
“We were having a conversation and I couldn’t understand him,” he said.
“His lip was a bit droopy and he was a slurring but he still had feeling in his extremities and was still able to use his body.”
Recognising signs of a stroke, Matt notified his supervisor, who called Triple Zero.
“I thought if we get on top of it now and call an ambulance we can get the best outcome,” he said.
“A few of the other clients clicked on to the fact that something was wrong.”
So Matt ushered those volunteers away from the scene, reassuring them and clearing a path for paramedics to treat Bobby and take him to hospital.
“I wasn’t scared. I was more just hoping that Bobby would be OK.”
Matt’s actions likely saved Bobby, now 74, or at least prevented his condition worsening.
“He still does have a few little issues but they’re getting better every day,” he said.
“He thanked me and said if it wasn’t for me he didn’t know what would have happened to him. It’s a really, really good feeling.”
