Fundraiser launched for Kyle Sandilands' chauffeur after horrific crash

News.com.au

5 days ago

A community fundraiser has been launched in order to help support radio giant Kyle Sandilands' chauffeur who suffered horrific injuries in an accident in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
George Plassaras, 52, broke multiple bones in the collision involving a $1m Rolls-Royce.
The Rolls-Royce, driven by a 23-year-old woman, and Mr Plassaras's Mercedes collided on New South Head Rd, Rose Bay, about 3.30am on Saturday.
Among the injuries, he suffered a broken spine, broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and diaphragm, a torn-open abdomen, two broken hips and two broken femurs.
A GoFundMe page organised to help support Mr Plassaras's recovery described the driver as a 'man who dedicated his life to safely transporting others'; however, now he is unable to walk.
'The devastating reality … George now faces a heartbreaking journey ahead with catastrophic injuries from head to toe,' fundraiser organiser Simon Kalipciyan said.
'George is single with no family support network except for one brother.
'The man who spent years ensuring others reached their destinations safely now faces the frightening prospect of not knowing if he'll ever walk normally again – let alone return to the work he loves.'
Mr Plassaras's Mercedes van and 'livelihood' was completely written off, the fundraiser explained.
'The vehicle that represented years of hard work, pride, and his means of earning a living is now scrap metal. Without income and facing mounting medical bills, George is confronting financial devastation on top of his physical trauma,' Mr Kalipciyan said
The fundraising page had already raised more than $7000 out of the $16,000 target on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Mr Plassaras broke his silence for the first time since the horrific crash on Wednesday.
Speaking from hospital, he told the Kyle & Jackie O show that he faced a long road to recovery.
'I've got no right hip. It's totally gone,' he said.
'I've just been laying flat since Saturday, since the accident.'
The driver said he would need hip surgery that would keep him off the road for some time.
He also requires a second knee operation.
Mr Plassaras said he would not know the extent of the damage to his spine until his hip operation.
'I've basically got no hip. After the operation, I can't legally drive for six weeks,' he said.
'After the hip (surgery), I've got to do my right knee. They've got to check my X-ray for my spine once I do my hip.
'There's a long list of injuries.'
Earlier in the week, Sandilands thanked his chauffeur for being the 'greatest employee ever'.
'What did (he) say when he was taken away in the ambulance? He asked for his mobile phone so he could do what?' he told listeners.
'This is a guy at 4.30 in the morning after he has been cut out of his vehicle, he's been trapped in his van for an hour, this poor bloke.
'And he asks the ambo, 'Get my phone so I can make sure Kyle's all right for the week'.'
Meanwhile, the driver of the Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce, which is thought to be worth $1m, was not injured.
Incredible images from the scene of the crash show debris from both vehicles strewn all over the road in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police said the woman returned a positive result to a roadside breath test.
She was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where she allegedly refused to undergo a breath analysis.
The woman was charged with cause bodily harm by misconduct, in charge of motor vehicle and refuse or fail to submit to breath analysis.
She was given conditional bail to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on August 15.