Kitchen Injury Highlights NSRI’s Wider Impact

When Stuart Harrison reached for a falling glass one quiet Tuesday afternoon, he didn’t expect to find himself in a life-threatening situation. But in the space of seconds, a simple household mishap turned into a severe medical emergency.

A Sudden Accident at Home

“I was home alone at the time, washing some glasses in the sink,” Stuart recalls. “One of them slipped out of my hand, and as I grabbed for it, it broke and went straight into my left wrist.”

What followed was a blur. The risk of serious blood loss became immediately apparent, and Stuart knew he needed to call for help.

His initial attempts to use his phone were complicated by the fingerprint recognition feature on his left thumb – now covered in blood. “I managed to get past that obstacle because I was hitting a bit of a panic. All I needed was somebody to know this had happened,” Stuart explains.

Turning to Familiar Heroes

In that moment, one name came instantly to mind: Station 32, Port Edward.

“I thought about phoning people I know around me, and immediately sprung to mind were Marlene Livingstone and Kyle Farrell from Station 32,” he says. Stuart’s connection to the station is long-standing, as he helped found it years ago.

Living in a semi-rural area, roughly 30 kilometres from the nearest hospital, meant time was critical. “Emergency treatment is always going to take a bit of time to get to one,” Stuart explains.

When he called Marlene, she responded immediately. Within minutes, four NSRI volunteers – Marlene, Kyle, Inge Hartman and Johan De Meyer – were at Stuart’s doorstep. “We assessed the situation and realised I needed to go to the hospital,” Stuart says.

There, doctors confirmed that the glass had narrowly missed a major artery. The wound required multiple internal and external stitches, but would heal with time. “Very fortunately,” Stuart says, “the glass narrowly missed my artery, so the bleed was not as life-threatening at that point, but it could have been.”

A Broader Role in the Community

While the NSRI is best known for saving lives in and around water, Station 32’s response to Stuart’s emergency reflects a much broader commitment. “We respond to a lot of land-based medical calls because Port Edward is about 20 minutes away from any ambulance service,” explains Station Commander John Nicholas. “We respond to just about everything. For Station 32, being ready to help in any emergency is part of its identity. “A lot of our volunteers are really good at the medical work,” John adds. “It means a lot to the community, and it’s earned us a lot of respect and goodwill.”

Dedicated Volunteers Who Create Real Impact

The volunteers who reached Stuart that afternoon were not only experienced but deeply committed. “All of them have their Level 3 medical certificates,” says John. “Many have done extra voluntary time with ambulance services to improve their skills. They love what they do and give up their time selflessly.”

Many even invest in their own equipment – pulse oximeters, jump bags, trauma gear – to ensure they’re ready at a moment’s notice.

Though the NSRI does not transport patients, Station 32 works closely with local ambulance services to stabilise patients and coordinate further care. “It also builds great relationships with all the other emergency services,” John notes. “That’s a big part of who we are.”

Closer Than You Think

For Stuart, the experience served as both a personal wake-up call and a reminder of community strength. “It’s so important for people to know that there’s help much closer to home than they realise,” he says. “These first responders play such a fantastic role. They’re qualified, equipped, experienced, and literally on our doorstep.”

Station 32’s swift, selfless response that afternoon underscores a truth at the heart of the NSRI’s mission: saving lives is not limited to water.

“It’s really reassuring to know,” Stuart reflects, “that with one telephone call, someone could be there, and potentially save your life.”