Joy as ‘Guru’ finally awakes
A MAN who cheated death when his ute slammed into a parked truck and caught fire has awoken from a coma.
Andrew Guerry was given little chance of survival when taken to hospital in a critical condition after the sickening smash on the M1 at Helensvale last weekend.
The 33-year-old woke up in Gold Coast University Hospital in the early hours of yesterday to an overjoyed and emotional family reception.
His sister, Nicole Wingfield, said it was the “greatest, most emotional day” of her life.
“He is out of a coma and doing well,” she wrote on Facebook.
“He is of course very fragile and has a long way to go but the ‘Guru’ is back.
“Big day today and a long road ahead.”
Mr Guerry suffered a serious head injury and broken arms, ribs, sternum and leg. He remains in the intensive care unit. He underwent surgery two days ago, which Ms Wingfield said involved “sewing his arm and leg back together’’.
Emergency workers had to cut Mr Guerry, who is well known in motocross, from the vehicle after the impact pushed it almost entirely under the truck, which had been parked on the side of the motorway. An Uber driver who saw the crash told the Bulletin he had stopped and put the fire out.
Friends of Mr Guerry – who call him “Guru” – have been posting messages on his wall since the accident and were thrilled yesterday to learn he had come out of the coma.
“So glad you are back on the right track,” a friend wrote.
“I had no doubt in my mind you would make it through this,” said another.
Forensic crash unit police are investigating the incident, which occurred about 2am Sunday.
The family has appealed to the public to assist with Mr Guerry’s expensive recovery, having raised $13,000 in three days on a GoFundMe page.
“His rehabilitation will be ongoing over the next year and any support to assist is greatly appreciated,” Ms Wingfield said.
Donations: gofundme.com/ 2psvqh8