About us

One week after feeling more tired than usual, Kevin was at Akau Tangi Sports Centre playing a game of basketball when he experienced something that changed his life forever. With just three minutes left on the clock, everything suddenly went black. “I remember looking up, and then... nothing. I blacked out,” he says.

The next thing he remembers was the paramedics over him. He couldn’t recall the moments in between. "The guys told me I didn’t fall; I put myself down. It was more like fainting, I guess,” Kevin reflects. "But when I started twitching and wasn’t responsive, that’s when they realised it was serious. I was convulsing. It must have been terrifying for everyone around me."

The chain of survival

Thankfully, a crucial chain of events was already in motion. Someone with 11 years of medical experience, who was waiting to play on the opposing team, jumped into action. “He started CPR [a potentially lifesaving technique used when someone’s heart stops beating] right away, and two others from my team joined in with chest compressions. Three of them working together," Kevin remembers. "It all happened so fast.”

Kevin was fortunate. There was an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) set up by Wellington Free, and this device played an important role in saving his life. “The AED was huge. Without it, I wouldn’t be here. The CPR, paramedics and the AED got me back,” he says, his voice full of gratitude.

“The ambulance crew was there so quickly. I would have been out for about 20 minutes before I woke up. When I came to, the paramedics were working on me, and I had an oxygen mask on. It was a trippy experience," Kevin admits. "At one point, I thought I saw my best friend’s face, but it wasn’t him. I guess my brain was playing tricks on me, maybe from the lack of oxygen."

Despite the chaos, Kevin remained remarkably calm. “Everyone else was running around, working on me, but I was pretty calm. I just kept thinking, ‘I want to live. I want to live.’ That was the first thing on my mind when I started to come around.”

"It’s crazy how much I remember about it. The paramedics were fantastic. I felt so safe with them. They were so professional. I knew I had to trust them and just let them do their thing."

The quick response from his teammate Leo was a game-changer. “The team jumped in and called 111. Without them, it could have been a very different outcome. He got CPR started right away," says Kevin. “They used an AED and after just one shock, I came back. That was the turning point. But it’s not always like that.”

Moving forward and paying it forward

Afterwards, Kevin met some of his team of Wellington Free Ambulance lifesavers.

Kevin spent time in the hospital afterwards, where doctors discovered the cause of his cardiac arrest. An angiogram revealed a blockage, and two stents were put in place. “I had to make some changes after that. I started eating real food again, no more junk, and I’m working out and staying healthy. My perspective on life has completely changed.”

"Life is fragile," Kevin continues. "One minute, everything can be fine, and then it can all change. That’s why we need to appreciate life, enjoy it, and take care of ourselves. Work and money aren’t everything. You need to be happy and healthy. I’m a survivor, and I now understand how important it is to have AEDs in the community."

In fact, as part of his recovery, Kevin chose where the next AED would go in his community. "I picked a church near my house. It’s so important to have these in the community,” he says.

Reflecting on the experience, Kevin is deeply thankful to the Wellington Free Ambulance team. “The AED, the paramedics, and the people who acted quickly - without them, I wouldn’t be here today. They truly saved my life.”

Now, Kevin is doing everything he can to pay it forward. "My workplace is organising CPR training with Wellington Free Ambulance. It’s crucial for everyone to know CPR. You never know when you might need it. If you’re not trained, you could be the difference between life and death for someone.”

Kevin also has a message for anyone who may find themselves in a similar situation: "Learning CPR and how to use an AED is a skill that can save lives. I was fortunate. Not everyone gets that chance.”