Justin Stokes considers himself extremely lucky that the weather was too rough for him to “even wet a fishing line” on August 3. It probably saved his life.
The 70-year-old Bowen retiree was about 50km offshore, one of three people in a 26-foot boat at night, when he started to feel very unwell and light-headed.
“We were already headed back to shore because of the weather and I wasn’t feeling great when the boat began taking on water; the bilge pump couldn’t keep up as the waves were coming over the front of the boat,” he said.
“My son and his mate had to start bailing. It was all a bit stressful.”
After the trio urgently radioed Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) and advised them of the situation and that he had a stent inserted in his heart in 2023, still had two blockages and was feeling increasingly ill, Justin was transferred aboard the rescue vessel back to shore.
He declined transport by ambulance and instead was met at the boat ramp by his wife Pamela who took him directly to Bowen Hospital.
“I didn’t feel well, but I didn’t think it was going to be a bad problem or issue,” Justin said.
“At the hospital I told them I was starting to get worse chest pain so I was taken in to ED and had just sat on the bed - that’s the last thing I remember before I passed out.”
An after hours admin officer and a graduate nurse triaged Justin quickly and took him directly to the resuscitation bay. He was being connected to monitoring when he collapsed unconscious.
Bowen clinical nurse educator Tracey Petersen said the ED team responded to the resus call button to find Justin unresponsive and not breathing and went straight into advanced life support.
“Within a minute, Justin’s airway was secured, we had commenced CPR and the senior medical officer on duty was going through the steps to deliver a shock,” she said.
“Within one minute of that first shock, he was back and talking to staff.”
An ECG showed Justin had a serious heart attack, and plans were made immediately to transfer Justin to Mackay Base Hospital by rescue helicopter under the care of the cardiology team.
“I woke up while they were getting me ready for the flight to Mackay. Within two hours I was at Mackay Base Hospital; I don’t remember the flight at all other than getting on and landing,” he said.
Justin spent the next four days in the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) with serious swelling and fluid around his heart. Investigations and his treatment by a MBH cardiologist are ongoing.
Justin said he was incredibly impressed by the hospital and dedicated staff’s response to his life-threatening situation.
“I couldn’t wish for better treatment – they did a fantastic job to bring me back because for a few minutes there I wasn’t of this world,” he said.
“I don’t think they get enough praise – you only ever hear the negative stuff about our health system.
“I cannot fault the staff in Bowen or Mackay Base Hospital – they were all just amazing and very caring.”
Wife Pam appreciated the kindness and consideration shown to her by Bowen Hospital staff during such a stressful situation.
“They really deserve every praise – Justin’s heart is only beating today because of them,” she said.
Tracey believes the quick actions of the Bowen Hospital ED team that Sunday morning gave Justin a chance he might not have had otherwise.
“I honestly believe without the after hours admin officer and quick triage he would have arrested in the waiting room and the outcome could have been very different,” she said.
“The entire Bowen team deserves praise for their quick response and calm, systematic approach to what was a very stressful situation.”