A family holiday in Broome, Western Australia, turned into a life-threatening emergency for Perth father Sandy Spratt in August 2025. The 25-year-old was visiting a relative’s home when he noticed an unsettling silence as his two young daughters played near a gated swimming pool. He rushed over and found his three-year-old daughter, Adaleena, unconscious and floating face-down in the water. Spratt pulled her out and immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), helping restore her consciousness before paramedics arrived. After Adaleena made a full recovery, Spratt received recognition at the 2026 Royal Life Saving WA Bravery Awards, using the experience to encourage others to learn first aid.
Sandy Spratt heard an alarming silence near the swimming pool
Spratt was visiting a family member’s home in Broome in August 2025, during a holiday roughly 2,080 kilometres north of Perth. His two young daughters were playing near a gated backyard swimming pool while he caught up with relatives. The situation appeared ordinary until he noticed that the girls’ laughter had suddenly stopped. Concerned, he ran towards the pool and discovered Adaleena, his three-year-old daughter, unconscious and floating face-down in the water.Spratt immediately pulled her from the pool. The sudden change from a family gathering to a medical emergency left little time for hesitation, and his response would prove critical to his daughter’s survival. The incident later became the reason for his recognition at Western Australia’s Royal Life Saving Bravery Awards.
He performed CPR before paramedics arrived
After pulling Adaleena from the water, Spratt immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. According to the ABC News report by Natasha Clark, his daughter regained consciousness before paramedics arrived.Spratt credited his ability to respond instinctively to first aid training he had completed through a previous job. Reflecting on the emergency, he explained that he already knew what to do without having to think about it.Adaleena was taken to Broome Hospital, where she spent time recovering. She subsequently made a full recovery, turning what could have been a devastating family tragedy into a story about the importance of recognising an emergency and acting quickly. Spratt later said the experience reinforced his belief that first aid knowledge could make a difference when someone’s life was at risk.
Royal Life Saving WA recognised his quick thinking
Spratt received a Royal Life Saving WA Bravery Award on 9 October 2026, joining dozens of other West Australians recognised for acts of bravery. He was one of 84 people honoured at the 2026 awards.Royal Life Saving WA acknowledged that his ability to recognise the emergency and immediately begin CPR provided Adaleena with essential lifesaving care. The organisation also highlighted the importance of being prepared for emergencies involving children around water.Chief executive Peter Leaversuch said the people recognised through the awards had demonstrated bravery and quick thinking. He emphasised that lifesaving skills were not exclusive to professional lifeguards or emergency responders. Spratt’s recognition therefore reflected not only his actions as a father, but also the practical value of knowing how to respond when an emergency develops unexpectedly.
Unfamiliar swimming pools can pose risks during holidays
Royal Life Saving WA used the incident to highlight the dangers children can face around swimming pools in unfamiliar surroundings. During holidays, families may spend time at relatives’ homes or in accommodation with pools that children do not regularly encounter.The organisation warned that unfamiliar aquatic environments can create unexpected risks, making close supervision particularly important. Even when a pool is gated, adults should remain attentive to children around water and be prepared to respond if something goes wrong.Spratt’s experience illustrates how quickly a seemingly routine family visit can change. The sudden silence that alerted him to the emergency was followed by an immediate rescue and CPR, with his earlier training helping him act without hesitation. The case also reinforces the value of learning first aid before an emergency occurs, rather than waiting until someone needs help.
The father wants others to learn lifesaving skills
For Spratt, the award offered an opportunity to share a message beyond his own family’s experience. He has encouraged people to complete first aid courses and learn CPR, crediting the training he received through a former job with helping him save Adaleena’s life.“Doing a first aid course really does save lives and is worth every bit,” he said, according to the ABC report.His message echoes that of Royal Life Saving WA, which hopes stories recognised through the awards will encourage more people to acquire lifesaving skills. Although no one wants to face an emergency involving a loved one, knowing how to respond can be crucial while professional help is on its way. Adaleena’s recovery and Spratt’s recognition have given the family a reason to speak publicly about preparedness, quick thinking and the importance of first aid knowledge.
