9 January 2026
Instincts kick in to save student with catastrophic heart failure
Teachers Patrick Rooney and Brooke Tkachenko were overseeing a physical education lesson on the outdoor basketball courts when they were notified by some of the Year 10 students that their friend wasn’t feeling well.
The pair immediately went to check in on the student, aware that she had been having seizures during the previous few months. Brooke alerted Head of Department Timothy Lloyd on the way.
They found the student struggling to sit up and unable to communicate before she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
“I called Tim to let him know what was happening and by the time we got to her, she was having a seizure,” said Brooke. “We made sure the student was in a safe position and by the time we had done this, Tim and Brandon were up at the courts with us.”
Teacher Brandon Migro, who was in the PE Office when Brooke’s call came through, accompanied Timothy to the outdoor courts.
“I began first aid – checked for a response, asked if she could hear me, checked for carotid pulse,” Brandon said.
“There was no response. The student then took one laboured breath and breathing ceased.”
Timothy called 000 while Brooke cleared the area, directing the other students to the gym before returning to help with the resuscitation effort.
As the student began to turn blue, Brandon and Timothy commenced CPR in coordination with the emergency operator.
Patrick then ran to the front office to retrieve the defibrillator. Krystal McKnight, who was in the office at the time, followed him back to the courts to assist.
“Patrick and I ran across to the courts where the student was lying and Brandon and Tim had commenced CPR,” said Krystal. “Tim took the defibrillator and began to set it up while I worked with Brandon to maintain CPR.
Teacher James Garcia had also arrived on the scene to assist after hearing about the incident at the front office.
The group worked calmly and professionally as a team, applying a shock with the defibrillator, clearing the student’s airway, continuing CPR and maintaining communication with emergency services.
The ambulance arrived while Timothy and Brandon continued CPR and Patrick and James went to open the gates and assist the ambulance in getting closer. The student’s mother had also arrived and was comforted by Krystal and Brooke.
“There wasn’t time to stop and think,” said Timothy. “Everything happened so quickly. It was all instinctive, and I just did what I could in the moment to give her the best chance of survival.
“Immediate CPR and the use of the defibrillator were critical. Waiting even a few more minutes could have been fatal. In a situation like that, every second counts, and knowing what to do can genuinely save a life.”
The group’s immediate intervention and calmness under pressure directly ensured the student’s survival and recovery. For their courageous actions they each received a Royal Life Saving Bravery Award, which they received at a ceremony in Perth last October.
Timothy says CPR is something everyone should be trained in. “Without recent CPR training, I wouldn’t have had the confidence or clarity to act as I did.”
His advice to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation is simply – “Don’t hesitate to act.”
“Call for help immediately, start CPR if needed, and get others involved to support where they can. It’s a confronting experience; but doing something is always better than doing nothing.”
