General News
26 November, 2023
From table tennis thriller to lifesaving medevac
David Ward has a new lease on life - literally - and he has two messages for people of the Wimmera: appreciate the medical services available, and get an Ambulance Victoria subscription. Mr Ward, 64, was an electrician by trade before he entered the...
David Ward has a new lease on life - literally - and he has two messages for people of the Wimmera: appreciate the medical services available, and get an Ambulance Victoria subscription.
Mr Ward, 64, was an electrician by trade before he entered the family newspaper business in 1981.
Earlier this year, Mr Ward suffered a blocked left ventricular artery following an extremely vigorous evening playing table tennis.
This could have proved fatal but for the immediate intervention and action of his local practitioner doctor, Dr Donald Liu, and the A&E team at Rural Northwest Health.
It took minutes to diagnose his condition, and a 35 minute ride from Warracknabeal on the HEMS3 ambulance helicopter to have him at the helipad on the roof of Bendigo Base Hospital ready for necessary lifesaving treatment in the cardio theatre.
Mr Ward said he will always be grateful for the high-quality medical services he was able to access from the time he sought help for chest pains, to his treatment in Bendigo.
"Wimmera people don't realise how fortunate they are to have all these services available," he said.
It was a normal evening for Mr Ward when he went to play table tennis at Warracknabeal's Leisure Centre.
His team knew they were in for a tough night - being fourth on the ladder and facing the top side, unbeaten all year.
All effort was required and, as it happened, all sets went to five games.
"We won in the end, and made it to the grand final," Mr Ward said.
"Not in our wildest dreams did we think we would do that.
"I've been playing table tennis for years in the local competition.
"It's good fun, very social and a great way to get healthy."
About 4am the next day Mr Ward, a first aider for 30 years and who had lost 28 kilograms in three years, was in pain.
Probably a chest infection he had caught from his wife, Jenny, he thought, so he took a couple of Dispirin.
He later found out that this was the best thing he could have done.
About 9am, after dropping papers at the café at Warracknabeal's hospital, he thought it might be wise to check in with the doctor on duty.
Dr Liu, never one for exaggeration, expressed surprise and told his patient he "was to immediately take a short drive".
He meant an ambulance ride to Warracknabeal Aerodrome.
Treatment started immediately in Warracknabeal with a cannula in each arm, and other preparations were made for the flight to Bendigo.
Soon Mr Ward was in Bendigo hospital's cardiac theatre, under the care of highly skilled and qualified staff.
His condition was described as critical.
Mr Ward was told that the artery supplying all-important oxygenated blood to the left side of his heart was 98 per cent blocked, and that, without treatment, he would have died.
He was told it was a “near death experience”.
A week later, Mr Ward discharged himself from hospital to attend the opening of Warracknabeal’s new fire station.
He was sent home with a “bucketload” of drugs, a reduced cigarette intake, and life started returning to normal.
Mr Ward was soon back to playing table tennis and cutting wood.
One concession is that he now carries a spray containing nitroglycerine that can reduce the risk of cardio issues or a heart attack.
Mr Ward hopes people will heed his experience, and sign up for an Ambulance Victoria subscription.
A friend of Mr Ward’s recently fell in the bathtub and was taken by ambulance to the local hospital.
He did not have a subscription, and the short trip ended up costing him over $1000.
Mr Ward said without his own Ambulance Victoria subscription, the helicopter flight to Bendigo would have cost him $7000.
“I’ve had an ambulance subscription ever since I left home and started work,” Mr Ward said.
“It’s the best investment and most affordable insurance anyone can have.
“Not that I’ve really needed it for the last 45 years - until now.”
Annual Ambulance Victoria subscriptions costs $51.94 for one person or $103.88 for a couple or family, and subscribers are also covered while interstate.
Ambulance transport is free for healthcare card holders and pensioners.
“Spend that little bit of money annually and invest in an ambulance subscription,” Mr Ward said.
“It helps keep the service viable, and it is really cheap insurance.
“You never know when you might need it.”