My Name Is Mark Basson, I Was Attending This Year's Midmar Mile As a Swimmer in Race 2

My name is Mark Basson, I was attending this year's Midmar Mile as a swimmer in race 2 on sat 14 Feb.

This was my 3rd consecutive mile and always enjoyed the atmosphere of the event. I started my race with intent to better my previous years time, but generally just swam for the enjoyment. It was my best and most enjoyable swim yet, and as I completed my swim, felt really pleased.

I passed through the walkways and collected my medal and other goodies that were handed out on the day. Was greeted from the top level by my wife and daughter. Then met up with a work colleague's fiancé. We chatted as we walked towards the exit. I noticed to my right a commotion and being a qualified Intermediate Life Support paramedic I stopped to offer assistance, thinking it was a minor incident.

I realized after seeing a gentleman lying lifeless on the ground that this was a very serious incident. Without hesitation I jumped in and continued with CPR. I began issuing instructions to the event paramedics who had also arrived for them to attach the ECG leads and to establish an IV. I also asked if the appropriate drugs could be drawn up ready if needed.

Our 'team' continued with CPR, our patient was now tuning a light shade of blue, not a good sign, minutes were ticking by as no oxygen was reaching his brain. The electrodes would not stick to the gentleman's chest, and we needed to check if there was a heart rhythm. We tried to dry hos chest but they still would not stick, I then called for a paddle reading to be done.

The paddle check revelled a shock able heart rhythm; CPR was continued while special gel was applied to paddles. Then the shock was delivered and we check for a heartbeat and pulse. Amazingly we had managed to get a heartbeat and weak pulse back.

We loaded the gentleman and I decided to stay with him to the hospital. En route to the hospital the gentleman stabilized more and opened his eyes, and then I asked him his name. He responded with Hennie Muller. I was truly amazed!

Hennie was handed over to the hospital in a stable condition, awake and talking. In my 10yrs in the EMS industry and having performed many, many resuscitations and never ever has a person responded or recovered so quickly post CPR, without any form of brain or heart damage. Absolutely amazing!

I am glad to have helped Hennie and with great teamwork the truely impossible was achieved. I wish Hennie well with his second chance at life.

Mark Basson