Reluctant heroes

By Tania Martin
MONBULK teenagers Diarmid McClelland, Jack Shoesmith and Ryan Grandcourt, still find it hard to believe their mate, Alex Webb, is gone.
Last Tuesday the boys, all approximately 13 years of age, were honoured with Ambulance Victoria Community Hero Awards for their attempts to help their friend, Alex Webb, 12, after he became impaled on his bike in a BMX accident in July.
But for Ryan it’s still hard to believe his best friend is gone.
On that fateful afternoon (17 July) the pair decided to go for a ride after Alex’s soccer practice was cancelled.
They rode around town for about half an hour before stopping at the BMX track in Moores Road.
Ryan watched as Alex went up for a jump but landed awkwardly.
But he had no idea how seriously his mate was injured.
“I thought he was just winded or something,” Ryan said. “I didn’t know how bad it was because there was no blood…I though he was concussed.”
Ryan rushed to his friends’ aid to try and help. At that stage Alex started to throw-up and was convulsing.
It was when Ryan saw Alex’s eyes roll into the back of his head that he realised how serious it was.
Ryan rolled Alex onto his side and cleared his airway before going for help.
He ran 10-20 metres away to yell for assistance before returning to Alex’s side.
It was then he came across Diarmid and Jack who ran to the local Primary School to get help.
Ryan said this all happened in a matter of 30 seconds but it felt a lot longer.
Monbulk teacher John De Coite worked on Alex until ambulance crews arrived, but it was too late.
Despite the efforts of two ambulance officers and three MICA paramedics, Alex was unable to be revived after more than 45 minutes.
The boys were among 16 presented with the awards last week.
Ambulance Victoria CEO Greg Sassella said this year’s recipients were chosen from more than 100 nominations.
“Their awards show ordinary people can be heroes,” he said.
But for Alex, despite the efforts of many in the community, nothing could be done.
Now four months after that fateful day, the Webbs are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of their beautiful boy.
Despite wanting to acknowledge the boy’s efforts to save Alex, the presentation ceremony was a painful day for the family. Intense media coverage, coupled together with the reality that Alex was the only victim who could not be revived, made the day that much more emotional.
Ryan’s father Michael said it was amazing that his son had kept such a cool head in the circumstances.
But for Ryan it has all been a bad dream that he’s waiting to wake up from.
“The next morning it didn’t feel like it happened…I couldn’t believe it was real,” he said. “I still don’t believe it’s real.”
Ryan said Alex would have been proud of his mates for doing everything they could to save him.
In a mark of respect, local kids have not used the BMX jumps since the accident. Ryan said he has ridden his bike again, but hasn’t ventured near the BMX track.