Miracle for son of reality TV icon who was mowed down by a speeding train and suffered unimaginable life-changing injuries
EXCLUSIVE
The son of a reality TV veteran who was hit by a train and suffered horrific injuries is spending Christmas with his family after making a miraculous recovery.
Drew Dowsley, 30, had suffered a mental episode and begged for help before the devastating incident on September 15.
He somehow survived the catastrophic tragedy, only to lie helpless and alone by the side of the railway for seven hours as his life ebbed away – before he was fatefully discovered.
His mother, celebrity make-up artist Helen Dowsley, was working on the set of reality TV show Farmer Wants A Wife when she received the devastating news.
“It was just an average day at work, I didn’t know about the horror that was happening,” Helen told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The last time I spoke to him he was pleading for help from the hospital and of course I thought they would help him.
‘I didn’t know they had refused until I got a phone call the next day saying he had been hit by a train and taken by helicopter to Royal North Shore Hospital.’
Mr Dowsley suffered a series of life-changing injuries, including the loss of his hand, three brain haemorrhages, a broken chest plate, broken ribs and a shattered spine.
Since then, Mr. Dowsley has undergone several operations.
Drew Dowsley (pictured) is home for Christmas, but still has a long recovery ahead of him
Drew Dowsley spent months in hospital recovering from multiple serious injuries (pictured)
Mother Helen Dowsley (pictured with Abbie Chatfield) was working on set when she found out her son was in hospital
“His left hand had become loose and they couldn’t save him,” his mother said.
‘They took donor skin from his right thigh to cover the ‘gaping’ hole, as they called it, over his wrist.
‘They have to put a steel plate on his wrist to keep his thumb on his wrist. There is no other skeleton in his hand. There is no hand. Just a big piece of skin.
“His body was absolutely shattered, as you would imagine if he was hit by a train.”
Three months later, Helen still can’t believe her son has been rejected by the medical professionals he begged for help.
The reason the hospital refused to deal with him was because he had not harmed himself or others and was not an obvious danger, Ms Dowsley said.
“They basically told him that there were other people who needed their help more than he did.
‘He was clearly in a psychosis in the hospital, but they sent him away. It was absolutely horrible and I just couldn’t believe it. I still can’t do it.
‘It makes me so angry and also terribly sad that my dear son asked for help but was refused and was in such a terrible condition that he then threw himself in front of a train.’
But the joy that her son has returned home in time to celebrate Christmas is tainted by concerns about the months of expensive surgeries and recovery that now lie ahead.
Helen Dowsley’s son Drew (pictured) has suffered life-changing injuries after being hit by a train during mental health crisis
Abbie Chatfield has led a string of Australian stars in support of her ‘beautiful friend’, Helen Dowsley (pictured together)
Helen worked with the world’s biggest stars worldwide, including Ed Sheeran (pictured together)
Helen Dowsley is pictured on set with Pia Miranda
Friends say Helen is the most loving mother to her sons (photo)
‘We went to the specialist last week and at this stage we know there will be at least three operations on his hand to get a prosthesis,’ she revealed.
“People think Medicare covers all their treatments, but that’s not the case.
‘He’s only been out of the hospital for five days. We don’t really know how much it will cost, but it will be huge and he will need significant ongoing treatment for the rest of his life.
“He needs so much help for all his injuries and his PTSD.
“After seeing the doctor at the amputation center, he will need a prosthesis that will cost at least $100,000… probably more.”
Australian TV stars came together after Drew’s accident to… GoFundMe campaign set up to help cover medical costs.
Reality personality Abbie Chatfield described the make-up artist as ‘the most generous and beautiful woman’ and said Helen always looked after everyone on set.
“She’s the one who guides us through our life dramas on set, and now it’s our turn to stand by her and Drew,” she wrote.
Helen says the celebrity endorsement has humbled her.
“It’s incredibly emotional to hear and read the support Drew and I have received,” she added.
“Waking up to a message from a celebrity I cared for or cared for years ago was just amazing.
“School friends I haven’t seen in years and complete strangers sending me words of hope were something that kept me going.
“My friend Abbie Chatfield called. It was incredibly kind of her and I am so grateful to her.
‘I couldn’t believe they took the time and their hard-earned money to help a stranger. Drew and I are deeply touched and forever grateful.
“All of this, this terrible tragedy, could have easily been prevented if only the hospital had helped Drew and not turned him away.”
For confidential crisis support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14
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