McKinely: 18 year old rides the wave

McKinely’s story

McKinely is a keen surfer with a close-knit family and many interests. He is also a lucky guy because following a surfing accident and number of years ago when he was just 18 years old; McKinely would not have been here today had he not received immediate CPR.

In 2013, 18 year old McKinely was riding the waves at Palm Beach Sydney when he was knocked off his surfboard by a huge wave.  His lungs filled with water and he was technically drowned. If that wasn’t bad enough he then suffered a sudden cardiac arrest as the result of the drowning.

Luckily his friends were on hand. Tom and Tim, members of Palm Beach Surf Club, were two professional beach lifeguards that were with McKinley on the beach.  They had both been trained in CPR and first aid so they knew what to do.  As they pulled him from the water and without a second to lose, they realised that McKinley had suffered a cardiac arrest so instantly began to administer CPR.

Used up a couple of his nine lives?

They were pumping McKinley’s chest for 12 minutes and a passing nurse, who just happened to be on the beach, stepped in and located the nearby defibrillator and knew how to use it.

Michael took 5 cycles of the defibrillator and was airlifted from Palm Beach to Royal North Shore Hospital. Once in Intensive Care, he was placed in a coma for three days.  He stayed in hospital for a further two weeks before being discharged.

McKinely may have used up a couple of his nine lives as a teenager but thanks to the prompt action of his friends and the hospital, he has made a full recovery with zero ill effects.

Had he not been given CPR immediately, there is no doubt at all that he would have died. Thanks to his life saver friends acting so quickly, he survived the accident and is still an active surfer to this day.