This was published 8 years ago
Neil Rudman saves life of a stranger, carrying out CPR on the street
By Jessy Edwards
Wellington, New Zealand: An 18-year-old university student saved the life of a stranger – and was so overcome that he burst into tears on the kerbside.
Neil Rudman was walking with friends in Wellington, about 11.15pm on Friday when saw a young man fall in front of him, and hit his head with a loud crack.
Claudia van Velthooven with Neil Rudman, who saved her brother Isaac by performing CPR after he collapsed. Credit: MAARTEN HOLL/ FAIRFAX NZ
It was Isaac van Velthooven, 19, who was waiting for a taxi home when he had a cardiac arrest.
Rudman rushed over from 100 metres away and immediately put van Velthooven in the recovery position.
Isaac van Velthooven, pictured here with sister Claudia, had a heart attack on a Wellington street. Credit: Facebook: Isaac van Velthooven.
"After a little while, he stopped breathing and I couldn't find a pulse," Rudman said.
"I put him on his back and started giving him CPR, and after a little while he took a big breath, so I put him back in recovery."
He had to repeat the CPR once more before paramedics arrived. "I was pretty upset, I was crying."
Afterwards, he couldn't sleep for worry. He tried to call the hospital to find out how the young patient was doing, but he didn't know his name.
Isaac van Velthooven is recovering in hospitalCredit: Facebook: Isaac van Velthooven
At Wellington Hospital, van Velthooven remained in an induced coma until Sunday, and his parents and five siblings rushed to be with him from around the country.
As his family gathered at his bedside, they began to hear how his life had been saved by a complete stranger.
"The doctors told us that someone had administered CPR and saved his life, because his heart had stopped," his sister Claudia said.
But they didn't know who their hero was, so on Tuesday, Claudia sent out a plea on social media to find the mystery man.
Within 30 minutes, a friend of Rudman's had seen it and alerted him.
Rudman and van Velthooven met in the hospital ward that night, where van Velthooven's family thanked him.
"Hearing Isaac was on the ground with no pulse is quite hard, but the fact that Neil was there, and getting to meet him to thank him, he's a hero," Claudia said.
She also hoped his actions might inspire others with CPR skills to have the confidence to step forward in a similar situation.
"It just kind of happened"
Rudman said his quick response "just kind of happened". He was trained in CPR when he was at high school, and again when he was in the United States doing a lifeguard first aid course.
"I don't remember thinking about it much ... I just kind of did know what to do," he said.
"It was kind of lucky I was taught well."
On Wednesday, the signs were looking positive for Isaac as he recovered in Wellington Hospital.
Doctors were still carrying out tests to find out what went wrong with his heart, but Claudia said the cardiologist was positive.
It was not uncommon for someone as young as van Velthooven to have a cardiac arrest, as many people had undiagnosed or congenital heart conditions.
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