General News
17 April, 2025
Talbot local commended for saving best mate’s life following cardiac arrest
The pair now urge locals to learn first aid to potentially save a life.
It was a pool competition like no other at Talbot’s Court House Hotel. Barry Ross was five balls down with three to go, the win was secured, until his heart stopped.
Darron Reid, the man who saved Mr Ross’ life, was awarded a commendation on Tuesday for his life saving actions.
“There is no other thought going through my head except this bloke has to live, this bloke has to live,” he said.
It was early July last year, everyone was expecting just another pool competition. For Mr Ross, co-owner of the Court House Hotel and Maryborough District Eight Ball captain, the win was in his grasp.
“I potted about five balls in a row and the last thing I remember is looking down at the table and [thinking] ‘I’ve got this bloke’,” he said.
Mr Ross missed a shot and went to walk to his chair. That’s when the memory stops.
Outside, Mr Reid heard a commotion from inside the pub.
“I’ve stuck my head in the door and all I hear is people screaming ‘it’s Barry he was grabbing his chest’,” he said.
Mr Reid ran across the street to get the AED at Talbot’s Post Office.
According to Ambulance Victoria, when a patient receives CPR and a shock from an AED their chance of survival more than doubles.
That’s exactly what Mr Reid did for his friend.
“I gave him 30 quick heart pumps to keep the blood going. I went back to opening up the defib, got that all set up, put it on him, there was one shock applied, and then the defib talks to you after that and tells you what to do,” he said.
“It just told me to continue compressions, tested him every five minutes, that’s how I know it was 27 minutes because there were five lots. It was just after the fifth lot that the ambulance arrived.”
Ten months on, sitting where the game took place, Mr Ross was at a loss for words.
“I tell you it was emotional for me, very, very emotional,” he said.
“Somebody has just saved your life, you’re indebted to them, and there’s no way known you can pay back what he’s done for me.
“How can I pay him back? Money means nothing, drinks or meals or thank you mean nothing. It’s that emotional, I’m still emotional now. I can’t do anything to repay him. There’s nothing.”
In the months since, Mr Ross’ appreciation has manifested in action. He encourages everyone to learn where your nearest AEDs are.
“Make yourself aware of where the defibs are,” he said.
“You don’t have to find it every day, if it’s there, it’ll always be there.”
Many at the pub that night didn’t know where the AED was, Mr Reid pointed out.
“These are locals. You’ve just got to learn where they are,” he said.
For Mr Reid the experience was incredibly emotional, but he’d do it again without a second thought.
“I went home that night, couldn’t sleep, all I could hear was the beeping of the defib. Close my eyes, all I could see was Barry lying on the floor. There was no sleep at all that night, I was a mess,” he said.
After five weeks in hospital, Mr Reid had the chance to see Mr Ross for the first time at the pub.
“I said a quick hello and walked out to my car and started crying, I was just that relieved,” he said.
“To finally see him after the five weeks he was in hospital for, it was bloody incredible.”
Mr Reid joins Mr Ross in encouraging the community to learn first aid, learn where local AEDs are and to learn CPR.
“You don’t do this for any sort of reward or anything like that. It is purely to help a bloke out. Stranger on the street, best mate, don’t care, I’d do the exact same thing all over again,” Mr Reid said.
This is particularly important in the Central Goldfields Shire which has high levels of out of hospital cardiac arrest but low rates of bystander CPR, according to Ambulance Victoria.
“The life you save could be your best mate’s,” Mr Reid said.
Saving lives will soon be that much easier thanks to the Talbot community’s fundraising.
The Court House Hotel will have a public AED outside thanks to local support.
“I can’t speak highly enough of people that come through that door. They’re the salt of the earth and they’ll give you anything,” Mr Ross said.
Mr Ross is also calling for council to include AED locations on documentation they already send to ratepayers across the shire.
“They communicate with every ratepayer in the area. It would be a community advantage to know in their area where the defibs are,” he said.
Local councillor Ben Green, who presented Ambulance Victoria’s commendation, plans to raise the idea with council.
“This is literally life and death. This is very important,” he said.
Community members wanting to learn more about CPR and AEDs can visit Ambulance Victoria’s website.