Dandenong Hospital emergency ward nurse Rachel Summers, with patient Peter Mummery, will receive a commendation from Victoria Police for saving the life of a young man in March.
By Shaun Inguanzo
A DANDENONG nurse will receive a Victoria Police award for her quick-thinking actions that saved the life of a man while she was off duty.
Local traffic police have praised the courage of Dandenong Hospital nurse and Somerville resident Rachel Summers, who will receive a Victoria Police Citizen Commendation.
Police said on Tuesday, 27 March a 23-year-old man became trapped between his car door and a brick wall when the vehicle moved while he started the engine outside the car.
Ms Summers was in a neighbouring property at the time and heard the commotion when the man’s family found him unconscious and not breathing.
She rushed to his aid, assisted in removing the man from the vehicle, and performed CPR to bring him out of cardiac arrest.
Ms Summers continued CPR until paramedics arrived to assist with resuscitation.
The man was taken to hospital, and to Ms Summers’ delight, lived through the ordeal.
Region Five Regional Traffic Tasking Unit Senior Constable Brad Cummins nominated Ms Summers for the award because she had shown extraordinary initiative.
“The ambulance staff at the scene and two surgeons at Frankston Hospital told me that if Rachel hadn’t acted, then that young man would not have survived,” Sen Const Cummins said.
“It was an extraordinary act, and an extraordinary decision she made.
“People every day have incidents occur in front of them, and they either make the decision to stop or not.
“This was a situation where a number of risks presented themselves to (Rachel) and she only thought about one thing – helping people.
“She didn’t have the obligation to, but as a result the man’s life was saved.”
Ms Summers will receive her commendation at a ceremony tomorrow (Friday).
