Husband’s vigil as cyclist fights for life
ON Wednesday when Suzy Wallace set out on a morning ride, friends and family had no idea the next time they saw her she would be fighting for her life.
The fit 47-year-old was cycling near Snapper Rocks at Coolangatta when she was struck by a ute and flung from her bike.
She remains in the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition, on life support, but despite the grim outlook, her loved ones say they have already forgiven the young driver.
Ms Wallace’s husband of 27 years, Scott Wallace, has not left her side since she was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital early on Wednesday with head, chest and pelvic injuries.
Doctors have warned family and friends to prepare for the worst, with no improvement in Ms Wallace’s condition.
Close family friend Brett Wagner has been among those at Ms Wallace’s bedside.
Yesterday he described Mr Wallace as a “broken man”.
The couple are wellknown
NO ONE BLAMES THE DRIVER, IF ANYTHING WE FEEL SORRY FOR HIM.
in the southern Gold Coast community and are both members of the Palm Beach Jehovah’s Witness congregation.
“He is shattered but he is being very strong,” Mr Wagner said.
Mr Wagner said everyone was praying for Ms Wallace and that the incident was a series of “unfortunate events”.
“No one blames the driver, if anything we feel sorry for him,” he said. “They were just the wrong seconds that happened at the wrong place.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in accepting blood transfusions. Mr Wagner said he could not comment on that and it had been a private discussion for her immediate family.
Mr Wagner said he went numb when he walked into the hospital room and saw Ms Wallace in the bed.
“Suzy has always been full of laughter, she truly is a really down-to-earth person ... seeing her lying there not saying a word is just numbing,’’ he said.
“At first we were sort of saying to her ‘Come on Sue, this isn’t funny anymore, you can wake up now’, and we half expected her to sit up and say ‘gotcha’.
“You think it is just a bad injury and they’ll bounce back in a few hours, but it turns out to be life-threatening ... and that is the really painful part.
“Her family have had the conversation, about life support, in private – but it has never been raised with anyone else. It is the family’s decision.”
Mr Wagner said he met the couple through church.
“They are long-time members and have a strong presence there,” he said.
Jehovah’s Witness elder Barry Wilson said he first met Ms Wallace in the late 1980s and found her “sweet and kind”.
“She was living in Mount Isa then and she was the bridesmaid at my son’s wedding,” he said.
“This was long before she was a part of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
“Suzy is a genuine person and it is heartbreaking to see someone so loved in this situation.”
Mr Wagner described her personality as infectious and said people were often drawn to her kind nature.
“I’ve known Suzy and her husband Scott for five years now ... they are inseparable, they are just the loveliest pair you’ll ever meet and you never see them without each other,” he said.
“It’s really hard to come to terms with this situation because Suzy was so fit and healthy and she was just doing what she would usually be doing.”
The 29-year-old utility driver was not injured, but treated for shock at the scene.
Gold Coast forensic police are investigating. No charges have been laid.
FAMILY FRIEND BRETT WAGNER