General News
21 March, 2025
Dunolly resident reunites with paramedics, best mate after cardiac arrest
When Dunolly local Ian Ellem saw his best mate, Ian Blacket, collapsed, bleeding from the head, and “grey as a bloody elephant” he didn’t wait for help but jumped into action.
On Tuesday, Mr Blacket had the chance to meet some of the paramedics who saved his life when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
“It’s like meeting angels,” he said.
Four months ago Mr Ellem and Mr Blacket were in Bendigo when they separated to do some shopping. As Mr Ellem recalls they were apart for only 10 minutes, but by the time he got back to the ute his long-time friend had collapsed.
“I just thought you’re not going nowhere,” he said.
“I put my hands on his chest and I’m just pushing, I almost felt like I could feel his spine.”
A nearby woman, who called Triple Zero (000), taught him the proper technique. Mr Ellem never had formal CPR training, he just saw a news segment years ago.
“I just kept the car running until the real mechanic come along,” he said.
Mr Ellem continued CPR in the hot sun until the first ambulance arrived eight minutes after the Triple Zero (000) call.
“It was quick, just as well, cause I was buggered,” he said.
Ben Miller, one of the paramedics on the scene that day, said early CPR helped save Mr Blacket’s life.
“[CPR] makes an enormous difference, its bridging that gap … until the defibrillator’s on scene,” he said.
Steph Morley, another paramedic at the scene, wasn’t on duty at the time but ran over to help.
“I don’t even question it, I go in and help out,” she said.
“You just know the more hands you have at the scene like that the better the patient outcomes are.”
While Mr Blacket doesn’t remember anything from that week, let alone the day, he’s forever grateful for those who saved his life.
“[Ian and I have] always regarded each other as brothers. If it wasn’t for Ian, and if it wasn’t for the [ambulance crew], I’d be ashes blowing in the wind,” he said.
The experience has changed Mr Blacket’s life. From being a smoker of over 50 years to having quit and becoming a staunch believer CPR should be taught in schools.
“The whole experience has opened my eyes to the whole thing,” he said.
Mr Miller agreed CPR is a valuable skill that should be taught more widely.
“We teach kids to swim because we’re worried about them drowning, and rightly so, and we should be teaching them CPR,” he said.
