Terrible week turned worse.

pejamas · 24-06-2008, 06:48 PM

Bit of back Story before the bad stuff..

My brother, best friend and hero Michael went to America a week and a half ago for 3 months as a nice reward holiday after serving two six month tours in Iraq over the last 3 years for the Australian Army. He was working/staying at "Gordyz Wake boarding Camp" which was his passion!

Last Friday my family got a phone call from a local hospital in Wisconsin that informed us that my brother Michael had been in a major boating accident. The wake boarding boat that he was in blew up while he and the owner were cruising along on the lake. All they told us was that he was "really badly burnt" but was allright.

They told us the next day that he only had 1st degree burns ( sigh of relief ) so there was a bit of good news.. Got a phone call this afternoon telling us that there actually 2nd degree burns and hes struggling to cope with the pain ( must be bad considering some of the stuff I've seen him endure with the army! ) Parents are freaking out since the hospital never told him to go back to get them checked out etc to make sure there ok, and they didn't even give him any antibiotic's!

I feel so sorry for my brother, to think he went to war was shot at, had car bombs attempt to blow them up etc and then when hes holidaying he nearly dies in a freak accident. Its hard to deal with because hes so far away and we cant all afford to fly out to see him :(

Ive got a few pics of the boat before and after, and a few of the injuries.

Boat on the right is the boat before

After

The injuries

The last one of his leg is were he is burnt the worst ( very bad on the inner part so makes it hard to walk )

Really depressing week already after finding out my GF might have cancer, and now this.. just isn't fair. Really just needed to let this out.

Dave

**Peuty** · 24-06-2008, 06:55 PM

Jesus mate, thats real bad luck isn't it. Do they know what might have gone wrong in the boat?

As you said, it sucks that your bro risked his life to serve his country and he gets injured on his freakin' holidays!

Hope he has a speedy recovery.

pejamas · 24-06-2008, 06:58 PM

The fuel line came loose, filled the engine bay up with petrol caught fire and exploded ( all pretty instant )

azaxr8 · 24-06-2008, 07:04 PM

depressing news mate.

asusdragon · 24-06-2008, 08:28 PM

really sorry for your brother and you mate, hopefully he will recover ok and quickly too so he can enjoy the rest of his holidays

gtfpv · 24-06-2008, 08:42 PM

this is very sad news . please contact the australian army. i'm sure they can help !!!!!

RACINGdork · 24-06-2008, 08:47 PM

id give my left nut for a supra.... not a burnt one though!

mate, i cant stand people who dont look on the bright side.
you should be happy that he is still alive! what dosnt kill you makes you stronger!
hope he gets well and back in the water soon!

JC · 24-06-2008, 08:48 PM

I got burnt last year from an LPG BBQ mishap - mine were 1st to 2nd degree but only about 1/10th the area of your brothers, and they HURT! I feel sorry for him and can only imagine the pain. Nurofen Plus works pretty well. His skin should heal pretty well - certainly not as bad as the GFs cancer scare, but hoping both end up OK.

Falcon_Crazy · 24-06-2008, 09:32 PM

My Mum wasa nurse and she has often said that burns caused some of the most horrific pain. Hope all goes well - he will need to be careful of his skin in the sun as it heals. A mate had the top of his head burnt after a bloke flicked kero onto a fire - his Doc told him he is at very high risk of skin cancer.

pejamas · 24-06-2008, 10:03 PM

Thanks for all the kind words guys

Yeah the pain is a killer for him at the moment, cant go outside at all for at least 3 weeks. Hes a tough one so I'm sure he will recover fine.

aye you · 24-06-2008, 10:34 PM

Dear god he's lucky that wasn't worse, cause from those photo's it had the potential to be alot worse.

Mate, my heart goes out to you guys, and your brother, to get through this. Tell him to look for an anasectic spray, called Paxel, in australia to use on his hands and arms, but not his leg, that looks 2nd. Paxel will help relieve the pain on the 1st degree burns. failing that, panadine Forte is awesome

bingoTE50 · 24-06-2008, 11:23 PM

He wants to keep the areas clean .Infection is the real worry.
I had second degree burns to my face from a radiator and hurt like hell .

A couple of weeks he will be right .

Grechie · 25-06-2008, 12:53 AM

shat man this sucks

hope ur bro recovers quickly and i hope ur mrs doesnt have cancer either,

i supose its the time of the year for me to, ive got crook immune system/stomach and docs cant figure out why !

all the best !

Fev · 25-06-2008, 09:39 AM

holy crap! any idea what caused the explosion?

i really feel for him, 2nd degree burns are excruiciating, i had about 2/3's of my left hand burnt in a tafe accident and man did it hurt. if i was him i'd be sitting in a bathtub all day long. i attempted to drive myself to my local GP but i couldnt make it, so i went to the local public hospital(bad idea.. 4 hours later i had some cream..)

Duke · 25-06-2008, 10:23 AM

Dave - my thoughts are with you today mate.
Whilst the pain of the burn is obviously distressing, he's a tough bloke and he'll get by, I've got no doubt about that, but to find out that your GF may be standing in the line of fire regarding the cancer - That's horrifying!

I sincerely wish your GF the best in her bid to overcome this news and hopefully she'll be cleared.

Stay strong Dave - you are not alone!

Fev · 25-06-2008, 10:35 AM

Is the owner of the boat okay?

james22 · 25-06-2008, 10:43 AM

Jeez, that sux. I fell into a campfire once, 2nd and 3rd degree burns up the side of my body. Never been in so much pain in my life. I feel for him...

Fev, for petes sake, try reading the thread for a change... Try post 3 for your answer...

MR.BA.GT.332 · 25-06-2008, 11:04 AM

it just goes to show that no matter how bad you think things are in your own life, there is always someone else in a worse situation... i wish your brother a speedy recovery and prayers that your girlfriend gets the all clear too.

**Peuty** · 25-06-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fev

holy crap! any idea what caused the explosion?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pejamas post #3

The fuel line came loose, filled the engine bay up with petrol caught fire and exploded ( all pretty instant )

That answer your question?

guitarman · 25-06-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_460bigblock

i wish your brother a speedy recovery and prayers that your girlfriend gets the all clear too.

Ditto, mate!!

atec77 · 25-06-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pejamas

Bit of back Story before the bad stuff..

My brother, best friend and hero Michael went to America a week and a half ago for 3 months as a nice reward holiday after serving two six month tours in Iraq over the last 3 years for the Australian Army. He was working/staying at "Gordyz Wake boarding Camp" which was his passion!

Last Friday my family got a phone call from a local hospital in Wisconsin that informed us that my brother Michael had been in a major boating accident. The wake boarding boat that he was in blew up while he and the owner were cruising along on the lake. All they told us was that he was "really badly burnt" but was allright.

They told us the next day that he only had 1st degree burns ( sigh of relief ) so there was a bit of good news.. Got a phone call this afternoon telling us that there actually 2nd degree burns and hes struggling to cope with the pain ( must be bad considering some of the stuff I've seen him endure with the army! ) Parents are freaking out since the hospital never told him to go back to get them checked out etc to make sure there ok, and they didn't even give him any antibiotic's!

I feel so sorry for my brother, to think he went to war was shot at, had car bombs attempt to blow them up etc and then when hes holidaying he nearly dies in a freak accident. Its hard to deal with because hes so far away and we cant all afford to fly out to see him :(

Ive got a few pics of the boat before and after, and a few of the injuries.

Boat on the right is the boat before

After
[
The injuries
[
Really depressing week already after finding out my GF might have cancer, and now this.. just isn't fair. Really just needed to let this out.

Dave

The good news is he will recover , the best news is when he sues it will be decent compensation , it could be much much worse coulnd't it ?

pejamas · 25-06-2008, 12:01 PM

Thanks again for the kind words guys. He isn't going to sue since hes really good mates with Gordy ( the owner ) because it was just one of those freak accidents. Gordy was burnt as well, but not as bad as my brother, he only just had a new baby girl 2 weeks before it happened, so lucky nothing to serious happened to him either..

Fev · 25-06-2008, 01:00 PM

Well its good news everyones okay, atleast they now have a good story to tell - always look on the upside and keep ya chin up! good luck mate

Duke · 25-06-2008, 05:59 PM

Just because they're mates, I wouldn't rule out legal action.
If the mate is insured it'll have little impact on him and the settlement could be worth considering. It can be done without the need for nastiness.

mcnews · 25-06-2008, 06:09 PM

Get him to Perth, about the best burns unit in the world I believe.

mad cow · 25-06-2008, 10:44 PM

he is a very lucky guy to get away without more injury, i would say that his burns should heal with only a little bit of scarring. my older brother had 3rd degree burns to all his body above his pants line from a petrol fire. he spent 8 months in the alfred burns unit and still has to wear a burn suit (like a thin wetsuit) every day to protect his skin from the sun and will always have to use it. he no longer has nipples or the ability to sweat and even 10 years after the event still has to go back for skin grafts. for the pain side the doctors said if they gave him any more morphine it would kill him, but he was still screaming in pain. it sure is a bummer that a guy who has given so much for our country has his reward ruined in such a blunt and painful way, hoefully he gets better soon so he can complete his trip....

blownba · 27-06-2008, 01:20 AM

Wow!!! That really is sad.
I am really sorry for you mate. Don't know what else to say really. Every thing I think of is pretty lame. I just hope that things are going to get better for your brother and your GF. I am sure they will as good things will always come to good people and your brother certainly deserves the very best for what he has done for our country.
I hope it all works out for your girlfriend too. Keep us posted.

troppo · 27-06-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

Just because they're mates, I wouldn't rule out legal action.
If the mate is insured it'll have little impact on him and the settlement could be worth considering. It can be done without the need for nastiness.

I'd have to agree here. Provided the insurance covers third parties, it doesn't matter whether the third party is a mate or complete stranger.

From the mate's perspective, the insurance company is going to make it's own decision about whether he should pay the excess depending on their view of who caused it. At worst, he will pay the full excess and the insurance company will replace the boat.

If your brother makes a claim as well, the only thing that changes is the insurance company makes a bigger payout, as they should. There isn't much doubt your brother is a legitimate third party whose injuries are a result of the fire and as such, any medical and rehab expenses should be covered by the insurance company.