A day at Wagga's Oasis pool took a drastic and nearly deadly turn, leaving one local mum a live-saving hero.
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Lisa Maynard, an anaesthetic nurse at Riverina Day Surgery, was enjoying a typical day at the pool with her children on Monday when she performed crucial CPR – saving the life of a middle-aged woman.
On Monday night Ms Maynard received some pleasantly surprising news – the woman saved was a sister’s friend.
“To know you’ve helped someone in the community is always a good feeling but to have it be someone you know of is even better,” Ms Maynard said.
“In all honesty, it is up there with one of the best things I've ever done - it is hugely rewarding."
Ms Maynard was watching her daughter’s swim when she noticed a kerfuffle of people beside the pool, rushing over to help.
She arrived to a woman lying on the ground, checked her pulse and discovered she wasn’t breathing.
With the assistance from a surgeon passing by, Ms Maynard managed to get the woman breathing as an ambulance arrived.
“To have someone in that state and to be able to bring them back is amazing,” Ms Maynard said.
The woman was discharged from hospital that night with no harm – thanks to the quick thinking of Oasis lifeguards who dragged the woman from the pool, Ms Maynard and other community members.
Ms Maynard said the incident emphasised the necessity of CPR skills.
”CPR is so important because it shows you can make a difference if you just have a go,” Ms Maynard said.
”You never know when something like this could happen.
”You don’t need to know as much as I do to help – anything can help.”
As a former intensive care nurse, Ms Maynard is no stranger to emergency situations.
“People were beside themselves afterward asking if I was alright but I just continued to get on with my day,” Ms Maynard said.
“There is an absolute adrenaline rush you get from helping people.
“It’s a natural high that never gets old.”
Oasis manager Maurice Eames said it was a joint effort of staff and customers.
“It is great from a community sense to see so many people step up to the plate,” Mr Eames said.
“You can give staff all the training you like but unless there’s a real life situation it can be hard to test.
“Some people tend to go on auto pilot in emergency situations but our staff really stepped up to the plate.”
Ms Maynard said she had received an overwhelming amount of gratitude from the woman’s family.
“They’ve been in contact to thank me and sent me flowers and champagne,” Ms Maynard said.
