Deakin’s lethal bite

From p1

Deakin said he sprinted to the “yard area”, something he now knows was not the right choice, but can’t recall much else other than Mr Wheller yelling to the other students outside to get into their rooms.

Mr Wheller and education support officer Dave Janssen made a quick search, spotted the snake and took a photograph – without getting too close – as the staff team swung into action putting into action first aid and other training they’d undertaken.

They all chipped in; teachers Candie EllisWilliams, Rachel O’Dwyer and Jake Harper, Mr Wheller, education support staff Mr Janssen and Jo-Anne Kondo and parent Darlene Fankhauser.

A compression bandage was wrapped around Deakin’s leg, 000 called, CPR given and contact kept with and advice received from paramedics until they arrived.

Mr Wheller travelled in the ambulance with Deakin and stayed at the hospital in the emergency department for several hours.

Mr and Mrs Hawke were at Tooradin when the call that shocked them came through.

They had to first return to Drouin to make arrangements for their three other boys, all younger than Deakin, before the drive to Canberra “that took for ever”.

There were no suitable flights available from Melbourne.

Regular updates came through by ‘phone from Mr Waddell as they travelled, arriving at Canberra in the early hours of the morning and heading straight to the hospital.

While the rest of the school party took off as scheduled the next morning to return by buses to Drouin, Deakin remained in hospital for four days.

In state parliament last week the school staff and parent that travelled to Canberra with the students received high praise from Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood for “an amazing response to a situation that could easily have been a tragedy”.

“Without their quick thinking and actions and outstanding first aid skills Deakin would not be alive”.

His parents are eternally grateful and cannot thank them enough, Mr Blackwood said.