When Carolyn Creswell OAM took to the stage as host of the 2026 St John Ambulance Victoria First Aid Champion Awards, she helped us celebrate everyday Victorians who stepped forward in moments of crisis.

For her, the event was deeply personal.

Just over a year and a half ago, she was fighting for her life after a choking incident at a family dinner in rural South Gippsland. The person who saved her was one of this year's First Aid Champions, her husband, Peter Creswell.

A normal Saturday night turned emergency

"It was a normal Saturday night," Carolyn recalled. "There were six of us, and it was about 8pm. We were having steak for dinner."

What started as an ordinary evening quickly became a life-threatening emergency when Carolyn began choking.

Like many people, she stepped away from the table to avoid causing concern.

"To save the embarrassment, as lots of people do, I took myself outside," she said.

Peter followed to check on her.

"He looked at me and said, 'Are you choking?' I nodded. He said, 'Can you breathe?' I shook my head."

Recognising the seriousness of the situation, Peter immediately ran inside to alert their friends. In those brief moments, Carolyn collapsed, lost consciousness and stopped breathing.

Staying calm when every second counted

Peter's first aid training immediately kicked in.

He instructed someone to call Triple Zero (000) and began CPR while being guided by the emergency call-taker. Joined by friends Hugh and Tim, Peter continued CPR for an extraordinary 30 minutes until paramedics arrived.

Reflecting on the experience, Peter said he never expected to find himself using his first aid skills in such a personal situation.

"There were two other people that helped with the CPR," he said. "I asked them afterwards why they were so calm, and they said it was because you were calm."

While Peter admits he didn't feel calm on the inside, his leadership helped keep everyone focused during an incredibly stressful situation.

Their determination kept oxygen flowing to Carolyn's brain and vital organs until paramedics were able to remove the airway obstruction and transport her to hospital.

The physical toll of such prolonged CPR was significant.

"I had nine broken ribs and a fractured sternum," Carolyn said.

"That's never good CPR unless you break a few things, as I've now learnt in intensive care. What they did saved my life because they worked very hard for half an hour until the ambulance got there."

Following a week in intensive care, Carolyn made a full recovery.

"There is no way I'd be alive now"

When Carolyn reflects on that night, she has no doubt that Peter's actions saved her life.

"There is no way I'd be alive now if Pete hadn't known what he did," she said.

"So, I nominated Pete for the First Aid Champion Award, and I put quite a bit of effort into the nomination because I think he went above and beyond.

"I know that I wouldn't be here if he firstly didn't know first aid, but secondly, if he hadn't pulled the scene together, been as calm as he was, and utilised the skills that he had learnt to save my life."

For Peter, receiving recognition as a St John Ambulance Victoria CPR First Aid Champion is humbling.

"It was very exciting to be nominated and get a Champion Award," he said. "I'm just very grateful that it was a good result."

The experience has also given him a renewed perspective on what matters most.

"You do start to think about what it would have been like without Carolyn," he said. "A lot of joy would have disappeared from my life."

Empowering everyday people to save lives

Peter is not a healthcare worker or emergency responder. He is a husband, father and community member who found himself facing the unthinkable.

When it mattered most, he relied on first aid skills he had learned years earlier and the confidence to act.

At St John Ambulance Victoria, our mission is to build a more resilient community by empowering people with the skills and confidence to save lives. Peter's story perfectly demonstrates why first aid education is so important.

Emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time, and often involve the people we love most. Knowing what to do in those critical first moments can mean the difference between life and death.

As Carolyn put in her speech at this year's First Aid Champion Awards, her message is simple: first aid training saves lives.

Thanks to Peter's knowledge, calm leadership and determination, Carolyn is here today to tell the story.

And that's exactly why we celebrate First Aid Champions.

Watch their interview below: