Grateful to be Alive

There was a strong feeling of unity, love and gratitude as  over 50 people joined together for a morning tea on the 5th July at the Blockhouse Bay Community Centre to celebrate Annie Tausi’s recovery from a cardiac arrest eight weeks previously. 

Annie (60) was teaching an Aqua Zumba evening class on 10th May at Onehunga pools when she collapsed. If it hadn’t been for the two life guards on duty, Eleanor Mulrennan and Michaela Housiaux-Andrews, who responded immediately with CPR and use of the defibrillator, she would have died. 

Annie hosted the morning tea as a way to thank so many people who had encouraged and supported her through her ordeal.   She expressed her gratitude to the life guards and emphasised the importance of learning first aid, and for communities to have defibrillators available for public use. 

During Annie’s recovery, two of her students, Rosie and Debbie, stepped up to the mark and did an incredible job keeping her classes at the Blockhouse Bay Community Centre going, and a huge thank you goes out to them.

Do you know where your nearest defibrillator is? Find out at www.aedlocations.co.nz