Expat’s relief after seven-storey fall
Father who lost feet in plunge to celebrate with family
‘Every day he is getting healthier’ ‘Dave knows he could have died’
A FATHER-OF-ONE who defied death in a fall from a seven-storey building is looking forward to Christmas with his family.
Dave Conway, 37, originally from Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, lost both his feet in the horrific fall five months ago when working on a construction site close to Brisbane on the Australian Gold Coast.
The plucky and upbeat Dubliner will be celebrating both being alive and Christmas with his mother Connie and father Shay, his partner Vivienne and seven-year-old daughter Keisha.
And according to his older brother Stephen, his spirits have been lifted as doctors have ‘prescribed’ him Guinness.
Caring mother Connie has remained in Australia since her son’s life-changing fall and visits him daily – thankful that he did not die in the horrific fall.
Dave emigrated to Australia in 2002 and has settled down, making a happy life there.
Two days after Dave’s accident, his entire family, Connie, Shay, brothers Stephen, 40, and Richie, 35, flew out to be with him not knowing if he would be alive once they made it to Brisbane.
Dave was resuscitated by colleagues after falling 20metres through scaffolding onto concrete at Lakefront Crescent at Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast.
Older brother Stephen, who has just returned to Rathcoole from visiting Dave, said he will never forget the day of the fall.
‘It’s quite ironic really, when you think about Dave’s fall. He fell seven storeys at 7am on his daughter’s seventh birthday. It has been a very long road for him and it will continue to be, but he knows how blessed he is to be here,’ said Stephen.
‘He is looking forward to the future and every day he is getting healthier, fitter and closer to getting out of hospital. Everyone is hopeful that Dave will be discharged around March time.
‘While I was there I thought my brother would be down and depressed about what has, and is, happening to him but he has a goal – and that is to get stronger and fitter to live a long life for his daughter, his partner, our parents, my brother Richie and myself.
‘All of us just want the best for him because he is just such a good guy.’
The Dubliner has undergone 26 operations and nine other procedures.
‘Everyone’s thoughts and offers of help and money here in Ireland, the US, and worldwide has been absolutely amazing,’ added Stephen.
‘He had two amputations from just below the knee so Dave is practising how to use a wheelchair. ‘In a few months time he will get his prosthetics so we will have to see how his body reacts and how he copes with them. ‘We are all looking forward to the day that Dave is able to come home to Ireland for a visit, but the whole family is realistic that that won’t be for a long time.
‘We are just so thankful that we have him here with us still.’
He added that Dave is also grateful that he didn’t suffer worse injuries. ‘There’s no denying Dave does get quiet when he thinks about what’s happened to him... Dave knows that he could have died, that his injuries could have been so much worse. He could have [suffered] spine or brain injuries and that would have been so tough for him. ‘But, he’s now able to get out to the hospital garden and the doctors have even prescribed him Guinness to help build up his strength and he’s loving that. ‘Every day now is another day closer to him getting better.’ With Christmas just a week away, the Conway family desperately want to thank so many people who have helped them over the past five trying months. ‘There have been numerous fundraisers and there are just so many people to thank who just went out of their way to help us,’ said Stephen.