Dawn Fraser’s daughter reveals the shattering choice doctors confronted her with after swimming icon’s horror fall: ‘It’s the worst question someone can ask you’
- Dawn Fraser suffered serious injuries in a fall last week
- Aussie won eight Olympic medals in a groundbreaking career
Dawn Fraser’s daughter has opened up about the confronting question doctors asked her after the Olympic legend’s fall last week, as she gave an uplifting update on her mother’s condition.
The three-time Olympian, who now lives in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, suffered “multiple” injuries last week when she tripped on a newly renovated driveway after eye surgery, including four broken ribs, a lacerated arm and a broken hip.
The 87-year-old was admitted to hospital last Wednesday and underwent emergency hip replacement surgery the next day.
Her daughter Dawn-Lorraine Fraser says her mother ‘scared the hell out of us’ and is now ‘so much better’ after doctors asked her if the swimming icon needed to be resuscitated if there were any problems with the operation.
‘It was scary, it was scary. “I thought we were going to lose her and the doctor told me we would probably have to deal with that, but I couldn’t face that,” she said.
“Because even though she’s my mother, I’ve always thought of her as invincible.”
Dawn-Lorraine Fraser (pictured right with mother Dawn) says her mother ‘scared us’ with her recent accident
The swimming legend, 87, suffered multiple injuries, including broken ribs and a broken hip, when she fell at her Queensland home last week
Mrs Fraser revealed she was thrown off guard when doctors asked her whether her mother should be revived if something went wrong.
‘I said: are you serious? Are you asking me this question? Don’t you know my mother?’ she said.
“That’s the worst question anyone can ask you if you’re not ready, and I said, yes, you’re going to revive her, my mother is a fighter and you’re going to make sure you do everything you can to save her. ‘
Ms Fraser said her mother is already getting up and walking around, with doctors telling her to slow down because she is moving too fast.
She also revealed that the hip bone her mother broke is “particularly dangerous to operate on,” so they opted to replace it.
On Tuesday, Australian swimmer Lani Pallister spoke about her concerns for her meter and admitted Fraser’s health problems had been “frightening”.
Pallister and her mother Janelle, who is in Budapest coaching at the World Short Course Championships, released a statement expressing their “deep sincere concern about Dawn’s recent incident.”
“Hearing of her fall was both stressful and frightening given the relationship we share,” they said.
Dawn Fraser’s goddaughter Lani Pallister (pictured left with Fraser) has spoken of her ‘heartfelt concern’ following the Olympic legend’s fall
Dawn Fraser was 19 when she competed in her first Olympic Games in Melbourne
“Dawn is not only an extraordinary athlete and icon, she is an incredibly special part of our lives, and her well-being is always in our thoughts, regardless of any injuries or illnesses she may face.
“We are relieved to hear that she is doing well and is receiving the care she needs from her family and hospital staff.”
Fraser, who won gold in the 100m freestyle at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Games, is widely regarded as one of the greatest swimmers of all time.
The eight-time Olympic medalist was the first athlete, female or male, to win gold in the same event at three consecutive Olympic Games.
Fraser was named Australian Female Athlete of the Century by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, who also inducted her as their first female member in 1985.