A FIRST-HAND account of a near-drowning in the Millicent Swimming Lake last Tuesday has been given to The South Eastern Times by one of the rescuers.
The life of a South East woman was spared due to the efforts of many, including Adelaide holidaymaker Carol Harrison.
The 26-year-old had only arrived with her family at the Lakeside Caravan Park for a brief vacation that afternoon and was standing on the diving platform in the centre of the lake just after 4pm.
Her mother Lynda Noll was in the lake and was alerted to a mishap by the screaming of two children.
“Mum then called out to me,” Carol said.
“A blow-up toy had tipped over and there was a body floating in the water and not moving.
“I went into the water, which was over my head.
“I lifted up the woman’s head to see if she was breathing, but she was not.
“Her brother came over and he said he thought she was faking it, but her face had turned blue.
“We floated her across to the sand and lifted her on to the grass and began CPR.
“Her brother did the breathing and I did chest compressions.”
As part of her work in disability services with a State Government agency in Adelaide, Carol is required to undertake CPR training each year.
Her last refresher course was in August and Tuesday was the first time her CPR knowledge was needed in an emergency situation.
While CPR was being administered, a bystander had phoned for help and off-duty Millicent Police Senior Constable First Class Nick Patterson arrived within a few minutes.
“The police officer said we had done well,” Carol said.
Const Patterson took over the chest compression task while Carol pinched the woman’s feet.
When other emergency services personnel arrived a few minutes later, the woman’s pulse had returned and she was assisted at the scene for around an hour.
Assistance was also provided by SA Ambulance Service paramedics, a doctor, a nurse and other police and Country Fire Service volunteers.
Carol remained at the lakeside during this time and was one of 10 people holding up screening blankets and sheets to provide privacy.
“Members of the woman’s family were present,” Carol said.
“They were calm and held their stuff together fairly well.
“I have slept poorly the past few nights as I was waiting to hear if she was alright.”
The South Eastern Times understands the woman was taken to an Adelaide hospital where her condition was said to be stable.
Carol said her CPR training proved to be invaluable and recommended resuscitation be taught widely.
Although not required by government regulations, Carol believes lifesavers should be on patrol at the Millicent Swimming Lake.
“They should definitely have lifesavers because there are a lot of people in the lake,” Carol said.
“We were lucky the kids saw her.”
