Accident Prone
14. September 2023“There’s not a month where I don’t find myself at the scene of an accident. I feel like a magnet for these accidents,” says Michaela Holíková, a second-year student in the General Nursing programme at our faculty.
In her free time, when she’s not unexpectedly appearing at and helping with accidents, she dedicates herself to music, songwriting, and singing. In July last year, Michaela achieved something extraordinary: she saved the life of a man who had suddenly collapsed on a moving train.
Such a heroic act could not go unnoticed, and Michaela was honoured during the UTB Gala Evening, where she received the Best Student of the Faculty of Humanities award. To learn more about the story, we decided to sit down with Michaela for an interview.
Michaela, your ability to handle the situation so adeptly certainly deserves recognition. We would love to hear your story in detail and discuss what happened and how this experience has influenced your life. Let’s start with a simple question: How did you find out that someone on the train was collapsing and needed help?
I was travelling on 6 July 2022, shortly after my secondary school graduation, on an international express train to Otrokovice to visit my boyfriend. I was sitting in a compartment with five other people when I suddenly heard an announcement over the intercom: “Important announcement! If there is a healthcare professional on board, please proceed to carriage number…” I left all my belongings (wallet, ID, phone, etc.) in the compartment with strangers and ran to see what was happening. As I ran through several carriages, I shouted that I was a healthcare professional so that curious passengers would clear the way. When I arrived, I saw a lifeless man lying between the seats in a compartment. His wife was desperately trying to save him with artificial breaths and chest slaps.
What was your first thought?
I thought to myself, “Alright, let’s do this!” I treated it as a model situation.
A model situation? Does that mean you had undergone training or practice? Did you have the necessary knowledge/skills for the rescue?
I stayed calm because I had attended a first aid club in secondary school, where we practised various scenarios, and that’s how I approached this situation. I took charge, assigned tasks to everyone nearby, and began performing CPR.
How did the rescue operation unfold? Were there any challenges?
One thing surprised me right away. I shouted at the conductor to stop the train immediately and call an ambulance and fire brigade, but I was told the train couldn’t stop for another 20 minutes. So, without hesitation, I began giving the man artificial breaths. After some time, I asked the conductor to find two strong men to help me, as I couldn’t continue CPR alone. Two sturdy men came to my aid, and we took turns performing CPR until the ambulance arrived. I kept setting the tempo and rhythm. We were all exhausted, but I knew we couldn’t give up and that we’d manage.
When the train finally stopped, I instructed the conductor to clear the space for the paramedics and evacuated everyone from the compartment so the rescuers could take over. The paramedics immediately began intubating the man, and after the second defibrillation attempt, his heart restarted. Together with the fire brigade, they carried him off the train. I also got off and gave the paramedics my contact details in case the man was infectious, and I needed testing.
Had you ever been in a similar situation before?
This was my first time performing CPR, but I often find myself helping people. A week earlier, I helped rescue two people from a car after an accident. Another time, I assisted a cyclist with a broken collarbone and a concussion, or I happened to be around when someone fell and started bleeding. There’s not a month where I don’t find myself at the scene of an accident. I feel like a magnet for these situations. (Michaela laughs.)
What were your feelings immediately after you realised you had saved a life?
When I got off the train, I broke down and started crying as the shock of what had happened set in. My boyfriend had to pick me up because I didn’t even know where I was. Eleven days later, I found out that the man survived, and I cried again, but this time with happiness.
For six months, I had to take Neurol to sleep because the entire situation replayed in my mind day and night.
How did people around you react when they learned about your heroic act?
Eleven days after the incident, I was contacted by a professor from a distant hospital who thanked me for the precise first aid I provided. He said the man would likely recover without complications and asked how the situation had unfolded. People in my life praised me in various ways. I even appeared on the front page of a newspaper, where the incident was briefly described. The mayor of my town also recognised me, and I was entered into the town’s chronicle.
In such intense situations, a bond often forms between the rescuer and the person they saved. Have you seen the gentleman since the incident in question? Maybe he wanted to meet you and thank you? Do you know how the gentleman is doing at the moment?
Yes, I’ve stayed in contact with him and his family. About a month after the incident, his wife called to thank me for saving her husband. Later, his son thanked me on social media, and the man himself reached out to me as well. They sent me a thank-you gift in the mail.
I did not see the gentleman in person until 8 months after the resuscitation, when he thanked me very much and wanted to get to know me. We both still know about each other and keep in touch.
This story is like something out of a film and undoubtedly makes Michaela an inspiration to others. How did the situation affect you?
It made me realise the value of life, which I had previously taken for granted. When I find myself in a difficult situation now, I ask myself whether it’s really worth the stress, because if it’s not a matter of life and death, then it’s not really that serious.
What advice would you give to others who might find themselves in a similar situation, especially if they don’t have as much experience as you?
Stay calm and believe in yourself. Count to five, plan your first steps, and immediately call for an ambulance.
Looking back on the whole situation, would you do anything differently now?
Probably not, because if I had done anything differently, I probably wouldn’t have been able to save him. (Míša remembers the whole incident with a smile.) The dispatcher will guide you through what to do if needed.
You chose the General Nursing programme at FHS UTB after successfully completing secondary medical school in Třebíč. Did this incident confirm that nursing and healthcare are what you want to dedicate your life to?
This situation definitely confirmed that I’ve chosen the right path in life. I truly believe that in a few years, I’ll be able to work as a general nurse and help those who need it.
How do you view your studies in the General Nursing programme, and why did you choose FHS UTB?
I chose a school 200 km from home because I found my boyfriend in Zlín. I can confidently say that love moves mountains, so FHS UTB in Zlín was the obvious choice. I really enjoy studying here, and I’m very satisfied.
What are your plans after completing your studies at FHS?
I hope to successfully finish this challenging but rewarding programme in a few years and fulfil my dreams—whether that’s helping people directly or visiting schools to teach children the basics of first aid.