Skills picked up in bronze medallion training helped save Peel Aquatic Club swimmer Ben Riebeseel’s life after he suffered two broken vertebrae in a training accident in February.
Ben, 13, was training a relay swim with his teammate Joel Keeble, 14, and others when he hit his head on the floor of the pool upon diving in.
It took a few moments before spectators realised Ben was floating motionless face down in the water.
Miraculously, Joel had completed his bronze medallion training just six weeks prior, and was the first to react, swimming to Ben’s aid after noticing something was wrong.
He performed a vice grip on Ben and rolled him over so he could breathe.
“I saw Ben try to move and I thought ‘what is he doing, is he just joking around or something?’” Joel said.
“After a while I realised he wasn’t. I did the vice grip and turned Ben over and he told me he couldn’t move.
“I yelled out ‘spinal!’ and then everyone around the pool started to react. Our coach Jen was amazing.”
Ben was taken out of the pool, put on a stretcher bed and rushed to Peel Health Campus, where he was then taken to Princess Margaret Hospital.
He spent 12 days in a hospital bed in Perth before being allowed to leave in a neck brace, which he will wear for three months in total.
Ben will also have to undergo a rehabilitation process to rebuild the strength in his neck and back.
Joel admitted that without the bronze medallion training he underwent in January, he would not have known how to help.
“I would have had no clue,” he said.
“I’m just so thankful I knew what to do.”
The boys and their parents are now urging more people to enrol their children in bronze medallion or other swim safety courses.
“When I went to enrol Joel to do the training it was $180, and now I’m so glad I spent that money,” Joel’s mother Leanne said.
“That $180 helped save a life, so it’s more than worth it.”
Ben and Joel have been swimming together at Peel Aquatic Club since the start of the season, but have become good mates since the accident.
“I’m just so thankful Joel knew what to do. He saved my life,” Ben said.
The Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre are running their next bronze medallion course on Thursday, April 20 and Friday, April 21.
They will also be holding senior first aid courses in May.
For more information or to book for a course call MARC on 9550 3600.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
