3 December 2024 | Tennis Victoria

In October this year, William Wang was playing night competition for Hawthorn Tennis Club at Box Hill Tennis Club when a long time Box Hill TC Member suffered a medical episode. William, a medical professional, was fast acting and coordinated a response to assist the player.

The Box Hill TC has a defibrillator on site, and it was utilised in the response to the medical emergency. William, with the support of others including Jess Cahya and Simon Clark (both Box Hill members) and a member from Blackburn Tennis Club who was also playing at Box Hill that evening, was able to stabilise the player who was then taken to hospital by ambulance.

The community spirit to jump in and assist those fellow players in need cannot go unrecognised. We call out William as a Community Champion as the leader of this response and commend all involved for their crucial assistance. Tennis Victoria encourages all volunteers, team captains and anyone wanting to upskill to undertake First Aid training.

Pleasingly, the member was released from hospital following surgery to insert an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator. The impact that having a defibrillator onsite at the Box Hill TC has been life changing in this situation. All clubs are encouraged to get a defibrillator if you do not have one.

Several organisations offer first aid courses, including St John Ambulance Australia: St John First Aid courses. The AED has information on Defibrillator grants across Australia.

Congratulations to the Box Hill Tennis Club and William Wang for your proactivity.