Revealed: How Aussie water polo star’s VERY famous sport legend dad and her sister overcame tragedy that almost ended in disaster

Matilda Kearns and the Australian Stingers compete for gold in the women’s water polo final at the Paris Olympics. However, a life-changing event in her family could have changed her life if her parents hadn’t intervened so quickly.

Eighteen years ago, a near-tragic accident nearly took the life of Phil Kearns’ daughter Andie, Matilda’s sister.

The former Wallabies star, who played 67 rugby Test matches and captained the team 10 times, accidentally ran over his 19-month-old daughter in their driveway in 2005, a horrific accident that nearly cost him his life.

Kearns, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner, was returning from a morning swim with his three other children, including Matilda, when the accident happened.

“I got to the top of the driveway and saw there was a newspaper on the lawn. I had one of the kids jump out and get the newspaper,” he said.

As he drove the car forward, he felt a jolt. He thought he had run over a newspaper.

My son screamed, “You just ran her over,” and it’s a good thing he had the presence of mind to do that or I would have run her over with the other [rear] wheel.’

Kearns jumped out of the car and picked up his daughter, initially thinking she only had a few scratches.

Wallaby Phil Kearns is pictured holding his 20-month-old daughter Andie in 2005 – the year a tragic accident almost ended her life

The former Wallaby is reluctant to talk about the incident these days, but is actively involved in charity work to save young lives

Within seconds it was clear that she was seriously injured.

“Her eyes were rolling back in her head. She was clearly not in good shape. She went from pink to gray to white and then to blue,” he said.

Kearns dialed three times 0 and his wife Julie followed the operator’s advice.

‘Julie saved her life. She tipped over [Andie’s] “She went back with her head and within seconds she was white again,” he said.

It took seven minutes for paramedics to arrive. Kearns was later told that if it had taken two more minutes, Andie would not have survived.

When paramedics arrived, Kearns said, “the EMT came in and saw her. He grabbed her head and said to me, ‘Grab her body.’ And we just ran away.”

Matilda, centre, spends time with her famous dad Phil, right, at a Wallabies match

Andie (pictured with her parents) was hospitalized and placed in intensive care for three weeks, but was able to overcome her injuries

Andie spent three weeks in intensive care, requiring life support and a ventilator. Uncontrolled bleeding meant that her entire blood volume had to be replaced by transfusion.

The family has not spoken publicly about the incident. Kearns previously said, “We haven’t felt the need to go back and re-discuss the situation.”

However, their work for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, which provides medical equipment and health care for sick children, is of great importance.

The Kearns have facilitated the purchase of 130 devices for hospitals across the country.

In a remarkable coincidence, an important medical device they helped fund was later delivered to a local hospital, saving Andie’s life.

The Kearns’ Balmoral Burn, which started with a goal of raising $10,000, has now raised more than $32.2 million for Humpty Dumpty, which provides vital, life-saving medical equipment to sick and injured children.

‘Tilly’ Kearns was born with top-level sports in her blood.

Her father played in the 1990s, the Wallabies’ most successful period, and her mother Julie introduced her to the Olympics two weeks before she gave birth.

“My parents went to the opening ceremony in Sydney 2000 and I was in my mother’s womb. I was born the day after the closing ceremony,” Kearns said.

Kearns (pictured) and the Stingers reached the final with a surprise win over champions USA

Tilly is now in the final of the Olympic Games in Paris with her Australian teammates from the Stingers, looking to equal the gold medal the Australian women won in Sydney 24 years ago when women’s water polo first appeared at the Olympics.

The Stingers finished fifth at Kearns’ first Olympic Games in Tokyo, a result she called disappointing for several reasons.

They will face Spain for the gold medal after the Europeans defeated the Netherlands 19-18 in another shootout match, which had ended 14-14 in regulation time.