“ALL of this has been hell.” That’s how a mother described the last 12 months after her teenage son was horrifically injured in a high speed crash in Humffray Street South last year.
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The mother’s victim impact statement was read aloud in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday during the hearing of Emily Louise Beaston, 19, who was the driver of the car.
“The past year has been an experience I would not wish on anyone,” the mother’s statement read. “It has been and still is a nightmare.”
She said it was torture waiting to find out if her son would live or not, as she prayed he would survive through the night.
She said it was “gut wrenching” to be told she couldn’t see her son because he was too fragile when he first arrived at hospital. When she was finally allowed to see him she was horrified.
“I didn’t recognise him at first,” she wrote. “This is something I will never forget.
“All of this has been hell.”
The teenager spent his 18th birthday, Christmas and New Year’s Day in hospital, and has so far endured 10 surgeries, lost 20 kilograms and spent seven days in an intensive care unit.
He suffered a closed head injury, fractures to both lower legs, his left ankle, collarbone and ribs as well as a dislocated left knee and severe muscle bruising.
Because of the crash he had to give up a trial as an apprentice tiler, and is still being rehabilitated.
“I feel pretty shocked that I came close to losing my legs,” the teenager told The Courier two weeks after the crash. “(It’s) a big wake up call.
“I don’t think I am going to get into a car with an unlicensed driver.”
The teenager said his first thoughts after the crash were that he would never see his family again.
“I was pretty scared, I thought I was going to die.”
