If there is one face in the world Angela Gillan will never forget, it is the one that belongs to the man that helped save her stepdaughter’s life.
Five years later when Senior Station Officer Martin Hastie walked into her business, she said the least she could do was print his posters for the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union for free.
Ms Gillan, who owns Dunedin Print, said SSO Hastie was a hero in her eyes after he and three other firefighters saved her step-daughter Liana Gillan’s life.
In 2021, Liana collapsed at home in front of her children and went into cardiac arrest.
Firefighters were first on the scene.
‘‘We were expecting an ambulance, so when the fire truck turned up, we were a bit puzzled as to why they were there — but they pulled Liana out of the bathroom into a bigger area and just worked on her straight away ... it was amazing.’’
Ms Gillan said she had been told that only one in four people survived the kind of cardiac arrest Liana went into.
So, when SSO Hastie walked through the doors of her business a few weeks ago to get some flyers printed for their collective agreement campaign, she instantly recognised him.
Ms Gillan said she did not think twice and printed their flyers for free.
It was just a small way to pay him back for his service, she said.
‘‘Our way to say thank you ... nothing can replace what they did for my family.’’
SSO Hastie said hearing Liana was thriving after a pretty traumatic event was special.
‘‘I was only one of four on the crew, and only one small cog in a wheel, but we made a big difference, so it’s still important.
‘‘We have a lot of unsuccessful medical calls we go to, so the ones that are successful are memorable, and the stats prove that we are making a difference out there.’’
