A FATHER at Sorrento Beach has thrown caution to the wind by diving into the water to rescue his daughter. He saved his daughter’s life, but it nearly came at the cost of his own.
Peter and his family were at Sorrento over the summer when their daughter got caught in deep water. After saving her and returning to shore, Peter began to suffer a medical emergency. “My son ran over and told me my daughter had gone into the deep water. I tried to see where she was, I could not see her at first. I saw her and then I swam very hard and quickly to reach her and help her get back to the beach,” Peter said. “I soon got very short of breath and then I just kept coughing. My kids were watching all of this and crying. I started to cough up blood and I just couldn’t get my breath back. That’s when I told my wife to please call an ambulance.”
The 47-year-old was quickly transported to Frankston Hospital. The following assessment saved his life, as doctors determined that he needed coronary artery bypass graft surgery to relieve multiple blockages in his heart. “When I arrived everyone was waiting for me. I was taken to the intensive care unit where they were closely monitoring me to try to work out what was wrong,” he said. “I had no symptoms – I had never felt anything before, but the doctors told me you could have died at any time if this wasn’t picked up and I didn’t have the operation. Saving my daughter saved my life.”
Peter is now on the mend, and grateful for the treatment he received. “My Dad died of a heart condition when he was 56 – he didn’t get to have any surgery,” he said. “I had my 47th birthday at Frankston Hospital – every day I say thank you to God for giving me another chance to stay longer with my family, my kids.”
Peninsula Health is fundraising $90,000 to purchase new equipment for diagnosing and treating heart conditions, including blocked arteries and irregular heartbeats. To donate visit donations.peninsulahealth.org.au/donate/36-tax-appeal-support-our-cardiology-department
First published in the Frankston Times – 17 June 2025