Crash scene haunts hero
AN off-duty police officer who saved the life of a motorcyclist whose leg was severed in a horrific accident has been recognised for his heroism.
Senior Constable David Hanna received the Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner’s Certificate for his quick response in saving the man, who crashed at high speed on the Reedy Creek stretch of the M1 in August last year.
The motorcyclist’s leg lay 70m from where he finally came to rest.
Despite the recognition, Sen-Const Hanna is still haunted by that day, and his counselling is ongoing.
“I remember all of it, unfortunately,” he said yesterday. “It’s one of those things where you just act, you don’t think too much.’’
Sen-Const Hanna said the badly injured man, aged in his 30s, had since lost the other leg.
According to witnesses and dash-cam footage, the motorcyclist was speeding and riding erratically, and was not wearing a helmet or enclosed footwear.
Sen-Const Hanna was among the first on the scene, applying a tourniquet.
It is believed the man had no pulse and without the efforts of Mr Hanna and an off-duty nurse, who has not been identified, the motorcyclist would have died.
Saving a person’s life and acknowledgment from the Queensland Police Service were sources of pride, but the officer said he was “frustrated” that what occurred was preventable.
“It is frustrating, I’m a bike rider myself and trying to achieve a highway patrol job, I understand the dangers on the road and it is frustrating when riders choose to play dangerously,’’ he said.
“Nine years ago I joined the job to make my kids proud. Hopefully I do that every day.”
Sen-Const Hanna’s wife Kelly attended the ceremony yesterday, saying she and their daughters, 11 and 15, were proud of their hero.
“He saved his life,” Ms Hanna said. “He’s been through a lot but he’s a hero to me and our girls.
“I know when he’s not coping and it’s good that we communicate on that level and we talk through it.
“We’ve been together 23 years so I think I know him well enough to know when he’s not himself.”
Witnesses struggling with what they saw can contact Lifeline on 131 114.