KUCHING: Four quick-thinking individuals have been hailed as heroes for their life-saving efforts after a 55-year-old man collapsed at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) on Apr 30.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian praised the group for their swift action, which helped revive the man through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
“They are our community heroes,” Dr Sim declared in a Facebook post on May 9.
The four individuals are Rafidah Putit, a senior nurse from the Kuching Divisional Health Office; Frankton Bagat, an assistant medical officer from the same office; a medical assistant from Timberland Medical Centre who opted to remain anonymous; and a doctor from Sibu Hospital, whose name is still being confirmed.
One of the rescuers, a young woman, was captured in a video that has since gone viral, showing her performing CPR for nearly 30 minutes on the collapsed passenger, later identified as ‘Mr Law’ from Sibu.
Her decisive action, followed by two AED shocks, revived Law, who had gone into pulseless ventricular fibrillation.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, stressed the urgency of CPR in cardiac emergencies, saying, “When someone collapses and becomes pulseless, you only have a few minutes to save them.”
He added that the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Sarawak was the ideal platform to recognise such heroic efforts.
Dr Sim had attended a handover ceremony for a new ambulance to MRCS at Mydin Samariang Mall on May 8, where Rafidah and Frankton were presented with Community Hero certificates.
In response to the incident, Dr Sim announced that his ministry will work closely with the Sarawak Attorney General to amend the Sarawak Building Ordinance to mandate AED installations in all public buildings statewide.
The proposed amendment is expected to be tabled in the State Legislative Assembly later this year.
“We also need more people to be trained in CPR. MRCS Sarawak is always ready to help,” he added.
Law, who had undergone a scope procedure in Sibu on Apr 29, had continued to experience severe pain and flew to Kuching the next morning.
He collapsed shortly after landing and exiting the domestic arrival hall.
He was later attended to by Timberland Medical Centre cardiologist Dr Tang Sie Hing, who performed an emergency coronary angioplasty after discovering that two of Law’s heart vessels were 100 percent blocked.
Law has since regained full consciousness and suffered no neurological damage.
Dr Tang, in a Facebook post, shared the family’s request to find and thank the young woman who began CPR.
As the story spread, more names of those who assisted came to light, prompting an outpouring of praise and gratitude online.
“Not only did you save a precious life and make a family whole again, you reminded us that the world is a better place because of people like you,” Dr Tang wrote.
