Mum staying strong after freak accident
A Gold Coast family’s Christmas celebrations turned to horror when a tree crushed their car during the devastating freak storm, seriously injuring their beloved mum.
Matt Allport said the tree “came out of nowhere” in the cyclonic storm, which struck as he was on his way home from a family gathering with wife Michelle and two of their children.
The tree smashed into the roof on the passenger side of their Isuzu – where Mrs Allport and their 13-year-old daughter were sitting – and caved in the windscreen, making it nearly impossible to navigate their way to safety.
Mr Allport said their 18year-old son and trained surf lifesaver Isaac was “unbelievable” in the chaos, immediately calling triple-0 for help.
Nearby bystanders rushed to their aid, even guiding the family through debris and fallen powerlines to waiting emergency services.
Mrs Allport remained in the wreckage for more than an hour before being rushed to hospital.
Her serious injuries include seven broken and one compressed vertebrae, four broken ribs, a broken shoulder blade and collarbone, and breaks in both bones in her left forearm.
Mr Allport said his wife had already undergone two surgeries – including a mammoth five-and-a-half-hour operation last week – and was staying positive in the early stages of her recovery.
“It’s day-by-day at the moment, but she’s up and about and dealing with the pain as she can,” he said.
“There’s no movement or sense of feeling in the left arm, so there’s been nerve damage up in the shoulder there.”
The couple expect Mrs Allport will need physical rehabilitation before she is able to return home and continue specialist treatment in Brisbane as an outpatient.
The beloved mum is no stranger to medical battles, having beaten leukaemia and suffered a chronic bone condition since she was a child.
Mr Allport said his wife – who volunteered for years at the Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club and associated groups – was asking about her management duties as she was getting out of the intensive care unit.
“She can’t win a trick but she’s still always looking out for everyone else,” Mr Allport said.
“She’s strong, she won’t let this beat her – I know that much.”
The family’s friends and wider surf lifesaving community have rallied behind them in the weeks since the horrific incident.
More than $12,000 in donations have flooded into a GoFundMe to support the Allports through the lengthy recovery ahead.
“(Michelle)’s got such a big network of friends, it’s overwhelming,” Mr Allport said.
“She’s not one to ask for help, she’s always offering and giving help.”
Community organisations including the Palm Beach and Point Danger Surf Life Saving branches have shared the link in social media.
A post from the Palm Beach club read: “We send our love and best wishes to Mich and support to all the Allport family. Our Palmy family are here for you.”
Helensvale’s Robyn Carman, 59, was killed in the Christmas night storm when felled by a tree as she walked home after being forced to ditch her car in the extreme weather.