Quindalup man's life saved by stranger

Ms Murphy realised the urgency of the matter and told him to get to Busselton emergency department as quickly as he could and she would meet him there. Luckily for Mr Murphy, a nearby resident saw the commotion and offered to take him to the Busselton Health Campus.

On arrival hospital staff immediately started monitoring Mr Murphy’s heart but shortly after he suffered a massive heart attack. Staff were then able to immediately administer blood thinners and morphine and the pain gradually subsided. The medical staff said if it was not for the kind gesture of the stranger or if Mr Murphy had waited for his wife to arrive from Quindalup the result could have been different.

Once Mr Murphy was stabilised, he was transferred to the coronary care unit at St John of God Hospital in Bunbury where a surgeon operated on him to insert three stents in his heart to keep the blood vessels open. 

“That was the action for day one – it was brilliant – the next day I was right as rain but was kept in hospital for observation and other tests on the heart” he said.

“I was discharged the next day”.

Mr Murphy said he was eternally grateful to his cycling mates, his wife for insisting that he go directly to hospital, and the stranger who kindly drove him to the emergency department.

“I am also grateful to the brilliant medical staff at both Busselton and Bunbury hospitals, and the ambulance crew who drove me to Bunbury,” he said.

The Bunbury surgeon told Mr Murphy that the quick action of the staff at the Busselton emergency department meant that there was no damage to his heart at all and that it is now as good as brand new.

“Hopefully it will keep on ticking for another 75 years.”

Mr Murphy feels he has been very lucky and hopes anyone would not delay in taking immediate action if they experienced chest pain.