'I tried y'all, I tried': How one father's grief is now saving lives in his community
- Replies 25
A Perth father's heart-wrenching loss has sparked a life-saving mission, one that aims to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedy.
What began as an unimaginable personal ordeal has grown into a powerful campaign to make community spaces safer for young children.
This is the story of how grief transformed into action, and how one man is working tirelessly to protect others from the same pain.
In January last year, Brian Bwoga faced every parent's worst nightmare when his one-year-old son Zaza choked on a grape.
Despite desperate efforts to save him, Zaza died in his father's arms.
‘I tried y'all, I tried,’ Brian Bwoga said, breaking down in tears.
The tragedy, however, did not break Brian’s spirit—it propelled him into action.
He successfully campaigned for LifeVac devices to be installed at 36 community-based facilities in Joondalup.
The first of these devices was installed at Joondalup Library, marking a significant step in Brian’s mission to prevent similar tragedies.
The LifeVac device functions like a plunger, using emergency suction to clear blocked airways when first aid fails.
'It's not going to push any foreign object in, it's just going to suction, you can hear that pop, that's how it works,' Bwoga said.
Brian believes that if the right tools had been available, his son would still be alive today.
'I'm very sure if we had the right tools he would have been here,' he added.
This simple, inexpensive device was created by Arthur Lih, along with Dr Brody and a few friends, after Lih heard a mother crying over her son's choking death.
In Australia, 140 children under the age of four choked or suffocated on food in 2022 to 2023.
Brian Bwoga’s goal was to drive these numbers down and save young lives.
'I want them in schools, daycare centres, I want first responders to have them,' he said.
Nurse Rebecca Pizzi called the device a 'game-changer.'
'I'm amazed something so simple and so cheap could save lives,' she said.
Brian's grief has transformed into a campaign of life-saving impact for other families, ensuring no one has to suffer the same loss.
Learn more about how this simple yet life-saving device works and why it’s becoming a crucial safety tool.
To see how LifeVac could make all the difference in a choking emergency, watch the video below.
Source: Youtube/LifeVac
Brian’s mission is a powerful reminder of how one person’s grief can spark change to protect others.
How do you think life-saving devices like LifeVac could change safety in your community?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
What began as an unimaginable personal ordeal has grown into a powerful campaign to make community spaces safer for young children.
This is the story of how grief transformed into action, and how one man is working tirelessly to protect others from the same pain.
In January last year, Brian Bwoga faced every parent's worst nightmare when his one-year-old son Zaza choked on a grape.
Despite desperate efforts to save him, Zaza died in his father's arms.
‘I tried y'all, I tried,’ Brian Bwoga said, breaking down in tears.
Tragic loss sparks father’s life-saving mission in Perth. Image source: 9News
The tragedy, however, did not break Brian’s spirit—it propelled him into action.
He successfully campaigned for LifeVac devices to be installed at 36 community-based facilities in Joondalup.
The first of these devices was installed at Joondalup Library, marking a significant step in Brian’s mission to prevent similar tragedies.
The LifeVac device functions like a plunger, using emergency suction to clear blocked airways when first aid fails.
'It's not going to push any foreign object in, it's just going to suction, you can hear that pop, that's how it works,' Bwoga said.
Brian believes that if the right tools had been available, his son would still be alive today.
'I'm very sure if we had the right tools he would have been here,' he added.
This simple, inexpensive device was created by Arthur Lih, along with Dr Brody and a few friends, after Lih heard a mother crying over her son's choking death.
In Australia, 140 children under the age of four choked or suffocated on food in 2022 to 2023.
Brian Bwoga’s goal was to drive these numbers down and save young lives.
'I want them in schools, daycare centres, I want first responders to have them,' he said.
Nurse Rebecca Pizzi called the device a 'game-changer.'
'I'm amazed something so simple and so cheap could save lives,' she said.
Brian's grief has transformed into a campaign of life-saving impact for other families, ensuring no one has to suffer the same loss.
Learn more about how this simple yet life-saving device works and why it’s becoming a crucial safety tool.
To see how LifeVac could make all the difference in a choking emergency, watch the video below.
Source: Youtube/LifeVac
Brian’s mission is a powerful reminder of how one person’s grief can spark change to protect others.
How do you think life-saving devices like LifeVac could change safety in your community?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
.png){kind=icon}
