When emergency service workers sprung into action to save Colin Dunn's life they weren't expecting to be serenaded by an Elvis Presley impersonator.
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But the patient and his friend Mark Brown were so grateful and impressed by the paramedics and a Triple Zero operator that they penned an original song, in the style of the King, as a tribute to the frontline staff.
"After the phenomenal treatment and support Colin received from Leeza and James, and that I received from the call taker, we decided to design a song to bring to everyone's attention how special they are," Mr Brown said.
"Our overall message to anyone in the care industry at any level is that you guys are the very best expression of true excellence."
The tune, written for call taker Diana Ng Tabaquero and paramedics Leeza Parthenios and James Graham, was a riff on the 1960 Elvis classic The Girl of My Best Friend.
Listen to The Paramedic Song by Mark Brown and Colin Dunn here:
Mr Brown called Triple Zero after hearing his friend of 50 years collapse in the next room during a potentially deadly hypoglycemic episode.
"I heard a loud thump, and I rushed in to find Colin unconscious on the floor," Mr Brown said.
"I rang Triple Zero and the call taker guided me through a few breathing checks before paramedics arrived. I was yelling at Colin, 'don't you give in', and then I heard the ambulance outside."
The paramedics said they were "impressed" by Mr Brown and his eagerness to save his friend.
"Mark was super helpful with information about Colin which made a big difference because Colin wasn't in a state where he could give us any information himself," Ms Parthenios said.
"Mark told us Colin was a diabetic and it turned out that was the issue," she said.
Mr Dunn was rushed to Dandenong Hospital in Melbourne's south east where he made a full recovery.
"To be thanked in this way during my first year of working as a paramedic makes it even more special," Ms Parthenios said.
"It's so nice for Mark and Colin to have put that much faith in us and to be so grateful afterwards."
Ms Ng Tabaquero said her family were thrilled with the tribute.
"My dad is an Elvis fan so my family will be thrilled to hear the song," she said.
"It's a lovely way to say thanks for the role that we play in an emergency."
Anna Houlahan
Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
