How do you pick out a thank you card for all this?
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Cullen Bullen’s Ashley Fitzgerald does not know how to express her thanks to those who helped her daughter Tamara, who had to be airlifted to Westmead after a crash on Thursday night, February 15.
Tamara Marlow, 17, was released from hospital the following day after being assessed and cleared for spinal injuries. She is still suffering from the effects of a concussion. She said she wanted to let everyone know how grateful she was to the people who came to her aid, especially Rod and Rick McCann and Brooke McFadden.
Rod turned his vehicle around after he saw the dirt kicked up when Tamara ran off the road at about 7.05pm and then rendered first aid. Rick Willmott, who Tamara said was also passing by, called emergency services and controlled traffic.
“I didn't know where I was, my name or where I lived, if I had been alone I think I would have been so scared,” she said.
“I felt really safe with Rod. He was amazing.”
Brooke searched for Tamara's identification and talked to her.
“I thought she was an angel because it took a while to find out who had been there with me,” Tamara said.
“She was such a pretty girl sitting there with me.”
Tamara was just ducking from Cullen Bullen to Portland when the crash happened. The cause is not known but further medical testing is being carried out to investigate.
The Honda CRV ran off the road, clipping several trees before swinging around and crashing heavily back-on into a large tree.
Tamara’s seat collapsed and she lost consciousness. Fearing a neck injury, Rod held her still until paramedics arrived.
While not trapped by the vehicle, the car had to be cut open by the VRA to allow Tamara to be kept as still as possible. She was freed and finally airlifted by Westpac Rescue Helicopter at about 9.40pm. The student vet nurse thanked all the emergency services who helped her following her crash.
“I’m so grateful. They were all great, making all these jokes to make me feel better.
“Dad jokes,” she added. “I didn’t understand some of them.”
Tamara has also reinforced the importance of seatbelts, taking to social media to tell all her friends to make sure to use one. She believes the belt meant she could walk away after just one night in hospital with only a few abrasions, some heavy bruising and the concussion.