Cameron recently suffered a massive asthma attack and life was literally ebbing out out his body.

“I just could not breathe and was basically choking,” he said.

The 19-year-old thought about the Epipen that had been sitting in the cupboard for two years because things were looking desperate.

“I thought no way is a puffer going to be able to help me,” he said.

It was panic stations in the West Nowra household as Cameron’s father went outside to flag the ambulance down.

Mr Smyth took one last look at his son, went outside and never expected to see Cameron alive again.

“I could see it and thought he is not going to make it,” Mr Smyth.

Cameron virtually gasped his last breath when he croaked out the word - Epipen.

“When I came back in I got the shock of my life and he was was sitting on the lounge with a mask on, talking and looking like nothing had happened - well he looked a lot better anyway,” Mr Smyth said.

Cameron’s sisters Bethany and Casey were madly trying to sort out the nebuliser, while dad had mentally said his goodbyes and gone outside

Girlfriend Jennifer Gegner was the calming influence throughout the dramatic struggle.

The family know many people suffer from asthma and want to urge them to consider keeping an Epipen in their homes or even to just talk to their doctors about the device.

Dr Gregory Bourke, a lung specialist, suggested they keep an Epipen in their home.

Mr and Mrs Smyth said in extreme circumstances you have a backup, an Epipen.

Mrs Smyth said the Epipen pumped adrenaline into Cameron and helped to open his airways.

The family, in the past, was able to control the attacks until the ambulance has arrived but with this attack, time was running out.