2025 Royal Life Saving Bravery Awards: Connor Wood, 14, recognised for saving grandfather’s life

Nothing can prepare a 14-year-old boy for a situation like this.

Without his parents at home and relying on his brother to phone paramedics, Connor Wood was confronted with his elderly grandfather unconscious on a couch in his backyard after having a cardiac arrest on Boxing Day last year.

He had no first aid experience, but managed to focus on a metronome playing through a phone connected to the St John WA command centre.

That lifeline helped him administer CPR on his dying grandfather for about 18 minutes.

St John WA paramedic Tania Dickson, who rushed to the scene, said Connor saved his grandfather’s life.

The teen was recognised for his courageous act at Friday’s 2025 Royal Life Saving bravery awards held at Kings Park, handed a Gold Medallion.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, Connor said his older brother, Harry, was unable to assist with compressions after having one of his arms stuck in a sling following recent shoulder surgery.

“Harry called triple zero, and then I started doing chest compressions and rescue breaths until the paramedics arrived,” he said.

“I didn’t really have time to think about much, because I was just doing what I was told from the operator, my brother . . . I was just doing everything.”

Connor said he had no official first aid training before the incident, but that he’d heard about CPR through watching television and from his mother.

“The paramedics were remarkable, they did loads of work and helped him a lot, and they got him back to life at the house, which was pretty great,” he said.

“I was just happy that my grandfather’s all OK, and that’s been a pretty consistent thing, but it’s nice to get a bit of recognition.

“My main thought is that my grandfather’s fine — he’s healthy.

“I don’t think I’m gonna go into any paramedic work, because I just think it would just be a bit too stressful.”.

St John WA Paramedic Tania Dickson said she had never come across someone so young who managed to save a life by administering CPR.

“It was quite a confronting scene, because initially the parents weren’t there. It was just the boys and their grandma was there,” she said.

“With no training and being so young, it was amazing, just amazing, he deserves the award.”

Connor was among several others recognised for their bravery on Friday.

Sergio Margio made sure he was in the crowd to watch as police officers and a nurse were recognised for saving his life on Friday after he was found slumped over behind the wheel of a truck last year.

“I had a faulty wire in my in-built defibrillator — I was dead for 42 minutes,” he said.

“Thanks to them, I’m here, alive.

“Words don’t describe how I actually feel, these guy’s saved my life. I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be enjoying the rest of my life with my son, the dog.”

Off-duty police officers and an off-duty nurse all rushed to save Mr Margio’s life, with a defibrillator fetched from a nearby police station before he was saved.

“They might be going to work every day, but when they’re saving a life, it’s a major thing.”

The awards recognised 79 people who acted selflessly in scenarios including complex water rescues and life threatening situations.

Royal Life Saving WA CEO Peter Leaversuch said the individuals are “true heroes providing genuine and inspiring examples for others to follow.”

“Despite their different backgrounds, they share a unifying quality, when faced with the unexpected, they chose to act with courage, care and compassion.

“Their stories remind us of the importance of lifesaving, rescue and first aid skills and the difference that a well-prepared community can make.

“Emergencies can strike at any place, at any time, and the decision to step forward can be life changing.”