Warragul resident Fletcher Van Kaathoven demonstrated extraordinary bravery by saving his father’s life during an epileptic seizure.

On an ordinary Saturday, 20^th of July, while splitting wood, Fletcher’s father, Jeremy, suffered a seizure, and became unresponsive and stopped breathing. Fletcher swiftly followed the DRSABC procedure: he removed the axe from the area, sent his youngest sister, Mavis, for help, and assessed his father’s condition. Noting his father turning blue on his back, Fletcher carefully placed him in the recovery position to open his airway. While on the phone with first responders, Fletcher provided essential personal details, including age, allergies, and medical conditions.

Fletcher’s quick actions are a result of his training with his local Scout Group and his parents’ diligent instruction. His decisive response not only ensured his father's safety but also highlighted the impact of effective training and preparedness.

Fletcher and Mavis were crowned as the 2024 First Aid Champions during an emotional event that took place at the State Library last Tuesday, August 20^th. They received a St John Ambulance G5 defibrillator which they will kindly donate to their local scouts’ group. Their story also featured in the Herald Sun here.

The competition this year was incredibly tough, with so many amazing stories of bravery and heroic attitudes. 12 other champions were also awarded during the event, and they are the exception, with less than 1 in 10 (9%) Australians saying they would be very confident to provide first aid to another person in an emergency. In Victoria, nearly 3 in 5 (53%) would not be confident. These statistics are worrying, especially given how common these emergencies are – 80% of Aussies have witnessed a health or medical emergency, 45% of those in the last 12 months alone.

Having first aid training can often be the difference between life and death. If Fletcher had not learnt first aid and remembered the skills he had learnt, the end result could have been very different for Jeremy.

Watch their amazing story below: