‘Heart stopped for 14 minutes’: trainer’s life saved by quick action of stewards
Greg Corless knows that if not for the swift and decisive action of Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission stewards Emma Mackenzie and Martin Wright he wouldn’t be here.
On Friday night at Wentworth Park, Corless, who trains in partnership with son Tayt, should have been on top of the world after their classy chaser Coco Model trounced her rivals at her resumption to racing in the last event on the card.
But ecstasy soon turned to distress for the 69-year-old who went into cardiac arrest just moments after the staging of the race.
“They told me my heart stopped for almost 14 minutes,” a thankful Corless said on Tuesday from his hospital bed.
“I remember her (Coco Model) jumping to the front and thinking she’d be hard to beat and then after getting a few congratulations when she won the next thing I remember is waking up in the back of an ambulance.
“It really is a miracle I’m still here. I’ve got a lot of people to thank and when I’m back up and about I’ll be making sure I do just that.”
Upon leaving Wentworth Park en route to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, paramedic officers were resolute that if not for the CPR performed by Mackenzie, Corless wouldn’t have survived the ordeal.
It was that quick-thinking and calm response that has prompted the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association to write to the GWIC with a commendation for exceptional staff performance by Mackenzie and Wright.
“In recognition of their outstanding performance, we recommend that Emma and Martin be formally acknowledged and rewarded for their exceptional work,” GBOTA chief executive Daniel Weizman said.
It is a recommendation supported by Corless.
“Emma broke half my ribs saving my life but I suppose I can forgive her for that,” he said tongue in cheek.