Whether it was fate or divine intervention that brought Harold Becker to Westmead Hospital, there’s no denying he was in the right place at the right time.
Despite Vic Calandruccio and Harold having greeted each other in the hospital hallways over the years, their paths would intertwine as 76-year-old volunteer Vic saved the life of 81-year-old volunteer Harold Becker.
Harold is a Welfare Officer at Blacktown Workers Club and for the last 14 years, he’s volunteered to attend members funerals, visit nursing homes or conduct hospital visits if members are unwell.
“I’m happy to put a smile on their faces, a lot of them don’t get visitors. It makes me feel proud to sit down and have a talk with them for a while,” Harold said.
He came to the hospital to visit two club members that day.
“It had been raining so I walked pretty quick from the top carpark,” Harold said.
“When I got to the pharmacy inside the hospital’s entrance, I had run out of breath, so I stopped. That’s the last thing I remember,” Harold said.
Vic drives one of the buggy’s at Westmead Hospital, a volunteer-run service which helps shuttle people across the large parts of the hospital.
“I was sitting on my buggy, waiting for customers to come in,” Vic said.
As Vic arrived near the entrance, he noticed a man sitting on a seat who ‘didn’t look ok’.
“I realised there was a gentleman sitting, and all of a sudden he collapsed on the seat,” Vic said.
Vic called out for help and Robyn Samuels who was working at the Information Desk / Switchboard heard his calls.
“I rang a code blue to get the emergency team here. We then realised he wasn’t breathing,” Robyn said.
Nurse Wendy Chan was working in the admissions unit when she heard people calling out.
“One of my colleagues called my name and sounded very concerned,” Wendy says.
Wendy ran out to see Vic, Robyn and two doctors attending to Harold.
One doctor quickly realised he didn’t have a pulse, so the other doctor began CPR immediately.
Wendy jumped into the second round of CPR, and despite never having performed CPR before, Vic and Robyn once again helped the man until the team from emergency took over.
Doctors have no doubt that the swift actions by Vic, Robyn and Wendy were life-saving.
“I felt relieved that he was breathing again and rewarding that we saved a life that day,” Wendy said.
Nearly one week after Harold’s heart attack, hospital volunteer Vic and Robyn were given the chance to meet Harold who was recovering on the cardiac ward.
‘It was fantastic to meet them, I’m really happy. I’m just so glad that those people are volunteering,” Harold said.
Westmead Hospital’s Volunteer Manager Kylie Elliot says the incident is an example of the brilliant generosity and spirit of volunteers.
“It’s a great reminder to tell us all to check on your fellow people,” Kylie said.
Kylie celebrated her volunteers by decorating the buggy and office with superman-style pictures for ‘superhero Vic’.
“I think the volunteers need to know it was something so extraordinary and inspirational,” Kylie said.
Harold said once he fully recovers, he has plans for what to do afterwards.
“After I get out of hospital, I want to get back to doing what I’ve been doing… volunteering.”