23 May 2026
Right place, right time for holidaymaker in Jurien Bay
A trip to the Jurien Bay shops while on holiday in April last year quickly became something entirely different for Jarrad Mohr, who was visiting from Perth.
A woman had collapsed from heart failure outside the local IGA store, and Jarrad quickly responded. Trained in first aid as part of his role in the WA aquatic industry, Jarrad instinctively took charge of the situation.
“My training definitely kicked in immediately,” says Jarrad. “On arrival, I realised the condition of the patient required immediate intervention; she was unconscious and not breathing. Until I arrived, there wasn’t anyone trained to perform CPR, so I immediately took the lead with assessing the patient and starting CPR.”
Jarrad began performing compressions on the woman while another bystander assisted by providing rescue breaths. An IGA staff member quickly retrieved the store’s defibrillator which was then applied. An initial assessment from the defib advised a shock was recommended, was subsequently delivered, and after further assessment Jarrad was required to continue with compressions.
Jarrad continued CPR in line with the instructions received from the defib while receiving additional support from the 000 operator. He continued with compressions for three additional assessments made by the defib, all of which stated there was no shock advised. An off-duty paramedic who was also on holiday from Perth offered assistance, providing reassurance to Jarrad that his compressions were effective.
Constable Amy Bakker was passing by the area when she was flagged down to help.
“To assist with fatigue, I took over compressions from Jarrad after the defib finished its next assessment,” said Const. Bakker.
A volunteer ambulance crew arrived and started applying their equipment while Const. Bakker continued with compressions. After sustained efforts, the patient began displaying signs of life, despite remaining unresponsive.
The woman was subsequently conveyed to the local health centre where she did regain consciousness before being flown to Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital for further treatment. She recovered well after further medical treatment and now has heart monitoring equipment.
“I’d like to commend Jarrad for his actions,” said Const. Bakker. “He was not in a work environment and there was no expectation for him to assist, however, his actions without a doubt saved the woman’s life.”
Jarrad’s initiative, skill, and persistence, together with the assistance provided by Constable Amy Bakker, were instrumental in the woman’s survival. For their actions, they were each awarded a Royal Life Saving Gold Medallion Bravery Award.
“I am grateful to be recognised,” said Jarrad, who says the award came as a big surprise.
“However, mostly I am just glad that I was able to provide assistance to someone in need. I think anyone else would do the same thing if they have the knowledge and skills to be able to help someone in the same situation.
“My first aid and CPR training allowed me to respond to the situation confidently, stay calm and take the necessary actions to provide the best possible assistance to the patient. I encourage everyone to undertake training and update your first aid and CPR qualifications. This prepares you for these types of situations and being prepared and knowing what to do enables you to provide assistance and respond in the best way possible.”
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Ensure you’re prepared for any situation by enrolling in a first aid or CPR training course today.
