BC Ferry employee, firefighters revive cardiac arrest patient at Earls Cove terminal

A team effort by first responders and a BC Ferries employee helped save an elderly woman’s life at the Earls Cove terminal on Sunday, Sept. 20.

The woman collapsed while in a morning lineup at the ferry terminal and went into respiratory failure, which led to cardiac arrest, according to Chief Kal Helyar of the Egmont and District Volunteer Fire Department.

A BC Ferries first aid attendant initiated CPR and at about 11 a.m. the fire department was paged.

Upon arrival, deputy chief Greg Crane and captain Chris Cervenko took turns administering CPR for about 15 minutes before the woman’s pulse was restored. Four other firefighters attended the call.

“[Fifteen minutes] is a long time, and it was a very happy situation that a pulse was re-established,” Helyar told Coast Reporter.

Firefighters are mandated to continue administering CPR until instructed to stop by a higher medical authority.

After the woman started breathing on her own, BC Emergency Health Services arrived with two ambulances and eventually the woman was airlifted from the parking lot to Vancouver General Hospital in critical condition.

There were no disruptions to the ferry service and as of Sept. 22, no update on the status of the woman’s condition.