Dainfern College learner James Smith (17), has dreamed of becoming a doctor for as long as he can remember.

However, nothing could have prepared him for the moment when that dream suddenly turned into a real-life emergency, where a man’s life depended on him. Smith was on a beach holiday with his family in Kei Mouth when he spotted a man floating face down in the surf. “I went to the lifeguards to ask if they were going to get him, and at that point, I noticed he was not afloat but facing downward.”

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The man was a 31-year-old police officer who went for a morning swim.

He was soon pulled from the water, unresponsive, with no pulse and not breathing, after being underwater for about eight minutes. “I knew immediately that we were dealing with something serious. We had to be ready to resuscitate him as soon as the lifeguards got him out.”

Fear, anxiety and adrenaline set in, but despite the chaos, everyone involved stayed focused. “At that point, he could have been clinically classified as dead, so I immediately started CPR.”

James holds a level 3 first aid certificate, as well as basic life support for healthcare providers.

He relied on his training and the support of the lifeguards around him to stay calm. “When someone’s life is on the line, you enter a different state of mind. You learn to control your fear and focus completely on the patient.”

Although he had trained for years as part of the Dainfern College first aid team and had experience in clinical settings, this was the first time he had ever performed CPR on a patient. “It was the most intense experience of my life. It made me realise how quickly life can be taken away and how important it is to appreciate every moment.”

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The rescue effort was a true team effort. Lifeguards and paramedics worked side by side, guiding and trusting one another through what was, for many, their first resuscitation. “There was one goal: To save his life. The trust and teamwork were incredible.”

The man was resuscitated, and one week later, Smith was reunited with the officer he helped save… Alive, standing, breathing, and able to speak. “He shook my hand and thanked me. Knowing he could spend Christmas with his family is something I will never forget.”

The experience has only strengthened James’ determination to pursue medicine. He hopes to become a trauma surgeon, fighting every day for the lives of others.

James credits Dainfern College for nurturing his passion, guiding him through his qualifications, and helping him build a foundation for his future. “Life is a gift, and I want to spend mine protecting it.”

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