May 20, 2022 – Small Investment, Big Impact
- Team Decision – The San Souci FC Over 45s team made a decision: each member chipped in $100 to purchase an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and CPR/AED training.
- Training Night – On a Friday night after a game, Response For Life Australia came to the club change room and trained the team on how to perform CPR and use the AED.
- Unanticipated Need – At the time, no one imagined this training would soon save a teammate’s life, but having the AED and knowing how to use it made all the difference.


June 28, 2024 – The Incident
- 6:30pm, Arncliffe Park – During a typical soccer game, George, a San Souci player, scored a goal and asked to be substituted. He told the coach he felt chest discomfort and he sat on the grass on the field sideline.
- Emergency Strikes – Moments later, George suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing normally. His team quickly realised he was in trouble.
- Immediate Response – Remembering their training, Bobby immediately began CPR, while Peter called for Spiro to bring the AED.
- Life-Saving Actions – Following the AED’s prompts, the team administered a shock, which successfully restarted George’s heart and stabilised his breathing until the ambulance arrived.
- Relief and Gratitude – The team felt overwhelming relief as they saw George regain consciousness, knowing that their preparation had saved his life. As the San Souci FC Over 45s team made a decision: each member chipped in a $100 investment to purchase the Defib and CPR/AED training.
- Emotional Impact – The entire team was deeply moved by the experience. Seeing their friend and teammate come back to life right before their eyes was overwhelming, bringing a mix of shock, relief, and gratitude. It reinforced the value of their preparation and highlighted just how powerful their collective action had been.
Ambulance On Scene
The sight of the ambulances driving onto the soccer field was surreal, yet reassuring.
The flashing lights and the sound of sirens cut through the tension, bringing hope that George was now in expert hands. The paramedics swiftly took over, and everyone knew they had done everything they could to give George the best chance at survival.




Today
George is immensely grateful to his teammates and for the foresight they had in being prepared. Now, he’s committed to raising awareness about AEDs and CPR, hoping to encourage others to be just as ready to save lives. “No defib, no game. It’s as simple as that.”
This story is a powerful reminder that a small investment in heart safety can make a life-saving difference 🫶.
Painting for George
George’s nephew, Anasta, made this heartfelt painting. To us, this amazing artwork represents his uncle’s life being saved on the field that day, the life-saving impact of George’s teammates and responders, the defibrillator being used, and the love and gratitude of his family. And, yes, George’s jersey number is #14!

“No defib, no game. It’s as simple as that.”
– George Loupis
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