Latest news with #Narelle
The Advertiser
15-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Quad bike crash victim recalls moment she 'somersaulted' on Greek island
Through intermittent puffs of oxygen, Narelle Massey recalls how she somersaulted during a serious quad bike crash that disrupted her travel plans. Just over a week ago, Ms Massey lay alone with no privacy and a difficult language barrier in a Greek public hospital, unsure about why her travel insurance had denied her claim. "After your story ran, my husband received a phone call from the insurance company saying they had reassessed my claim and they said it had been approved," she told ACM's Bega District News. "I was waiting for it in writing as I wasn't going to get excited until I had it in writing, and that came." Since then, the Merimbula resident's son Aaron Reid had raced to be by her side. He had taken a last-minute flight from Sydney with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to bring her home. Prior to Narelle's emergency stay, she had been enjoying an overseas holiday with her sister Pam, when the pair decided to go on a quad biking tour. Sadly, the unthinkable occurred, and the sisters crashed, resulting in numerous injuries. Narelle sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. "I absolutely remember it. It went in slow motion. We were coming around a left-hand bend, my sister was driving," the 62-year-old recalled. "The bend wasn't like we have in Australia, and it was a bit sharper than Pam thought, and so she went to correct herself, and the front wheel came up, and we hit gravel. "We slid into the stone wall. Pam went over the handlebars and the stone wall, and I flew over the top of her and somersaulted, landing in a little grass patch with stones around." The Far South Coast woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegean, to Athens for treatment. She had been in the hospital for two weeks when she spoke to ACM's Bega District News on July 14. "The first week was horrendous to say the least," Ms Massey said. She described her hospital room as being from the 1970s. "There's nothing modern. There are no curtains around to separate people. The window in the room is broken. It's 37 degrees outside and [it feels like] it's 90 in here," Ms Massey said. "I am starting to improve a bit, health-wise, but not many people speak English fluently, so I have to rely on other people to tell me what they've said. "They are looking at transferring me to a physiotherapy facility rather than being in the hospital, because of the chance of getting an infection, and they don't want that to happen. "I've probably got another three weeks. They're saying August 9 is when I will be clear to fly." When Narelle returns to Sydney, she said she will have surgery on her pelvis and hip. Aaron said he wouldn't be leaving her until he could bring her back home. "When I first spoke to her, she said, 'Bring me home'. That's my job. If she asks, I'm doing it," he said. A GoFundMe was organised to help Narelle, Aaron and Pam with miscellaneous incidental costs until they are all home. Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. Through intermittent puffs of oxygen, Narelle Massey recalls how she somersaulted during a serious quad bike crash that disrupted her travel plans. Just over a week ago, Ms Massey lay alone with no privacy and a difficult language barrier in a Greek public hospital, unsure about why her travel insurance had denied her claim. "After your story ran, my husband received a phone call from the insurance company saying they had reassessed my claim and they said it had been approved," she told ACM's Bega District News. "I was waiting for it in writing as I wasn't going to get excited until I had it in writing, and that came." Since then, the Merimbula resident's son Aaron Reid had raced to be by her side. He had taken a last-minute flight from Sydney with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to bring her home. Prior to Narelle's emergency stay, she had been enjoying an overseas holiday with her sister Pam, when the pair decided to go on a quad biking tour. Sadly, the unthinkable occurred, and the sisters crashed, resulting in numerous injuries. Narelle sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. "I absolutely remember it. It went in slow motion. We were coming around a left-hand bend, my sister was driving," the 62-year-old recalled. "The bend wasn't like we have in Australia, and it was a bit sharper than Pam thought, and so she went to correct herself, and the front wheel came up, and we hit gravel. "We slid into the stone wall. Pam went over the handlebars and the stone wall, and I flew over the top of her and somersaulted, landing in a little grass patch with stones around." The Far South Coast woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegean, to Athens for treatment. She had been in the hospital for two weeks when she spoke to ACM's Bega District News on July 14. "The first week was horrendous to say the least," Ms Massey said. She described her hospital room as being from the 1970s. "There's nothing modern. There are no curtains around to separate people. The window in the room is broken. It's 37 degrees outside and [it feels like] it's 90 in here," Ms Massey said. "I am starting to improve a bit, health-wise, but not many people speak English fluently, so I have to rely on other people to tell me what they've said. "They are looking at transferring me to a physiotherapy facility rather than being in the hospital, because of the chance of getting an infection, and they don't want that to happen. "I've probably got another three weeks. They're saying August 9 is when I will be clear to fly." When Narelle returns to Sydney, she said she will have surgery on her pelvis and hip. Aaron said he wouldn't be leaving her until he could bring her back home. "When I first spoke to her, she said, 'Bring me home'. That's my job. If she asks, I'm doing it," he said. A GoFundMe was organised to help Narelle, Aaron and Pam with miscellaneous incidental costs until they are all home. Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. Through intermittent puffs of oxygen, Narelle Massey recalls how she somersaulted during a serious quad bike crash that disrupted her travel plans. Just over a week ago, Ms Massey lay alone with no privacy and a difficult language barrier in a Greek public hospital, unsure about why her travel insurance had denied her claim. "After your story ran, my husband received a phone call from the insurance company saying they had reassessed my claim and they said it had been approved," she told ACM's Bega District News. "I was waiting for it in writing as I wasn't going to get excited until I had it in writing, and that came." Since then, the Merimbula resident's son Aaron Reid had raced to be by her side. He had taken a last-minute flight from Sydney with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to bring her home. Prior to Narelle's emergency stay, she had been enjoying an overseas holiday with her sister Pam, when the pair decided to go on a quad biking tour. Sadly, the unthinkable occurred, and the sisters crashed, resulting in numerous injuries. Narelle sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. "I absolutely remember it. It went in slow motion. We were coming around a left-hand bend, my sister was driving," the 62-year-old recalled. "The bend wasn't like we have in Australia, and it was a bit sharper than Pam thought, and so she went to correct herself, and the front wheel came up, and we hit gravel. "We slid into the stone wall. Pam went over the handlebars and the stone wall, and I flew over the top of her and somersaulted, landing in a little grass patch with stones around." The Far South Coast woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegean, to Athens for treatment. She had been in the hospital for two weeks when she spoke to ACM's Bega District News on July 14. "The first week was horrendous to say the least," Ms Massey said. She described her hospital room as being from the 1970s. "There's nothing modern. There are no curtains around to separate people. The window in the room is broken. It's 37 degrees outside and [it feels like] it's 90 in here," Ms Massey said. "I am starting to improve a bit, health-wise, but not many people speak English fluently, so I have to rely on other people to tell me what they've said. "They are looking at transferring me to a physiotherapy facility rather than being in the hospital, because of the chance of getting an infection, and they don't want that to happen. "I've probably got another three weeks. They're saying August 9 is when I will be clear to fly." When Narelle returns to Sydney, she said she will have surgery on her pelvis and hip. Aaron said he wouldn't be leaving her until he could bring her back home. "When I first spoke to her, she said, 'Bring me home'. That's my job. If she asks, I'm doing it," he said. A GoFundMe was organised to help Narelle, Aaron and Pam with miscellaneous incidental costs until they are all home. Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. Through intermittent puffs of oxygen, Narelle Massey recalls how she somersaulted during a serious quad bike crash that disrupted her travel plans. Just over a week ago, Ms Massey lay alone with no privacy and a difficult language barrier in a Greek public hospital, unsure about why her travel insurance had denied her claim. "After your story ran, my husband received a phone call from the insurance company saying they had reassessed my claim and they said it had been approved," she told ACM's Bega District News. "I was waiting for it in writing as I wasn't going to get excited until I had it in writing, and that came." Since then, the Merimbula resident's son Aaron Reid had raced to be by her side. He had taken a last-minute flight from Sydney with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to bring her home. Prior to Narelle's emergency stay, she had been enjoying an overseas holiday with her sister Pam, when the pair decided to go on a quad biking tour. Sadly, the unthinkable occurred, and the sisters crashed, resulting in numerous injuries. Narelle sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. "I absolutely remember it. It went in slow motion. We were coming around a left-hand bend, my sister was driving," the 62-year-old recalled. "The bend wasn't like we have in Australia, and it was a bit sharper than Pam thought, and so she went to correct herself, and the front wheel came up, and we hit gravel. "We slid into the stone wall. Pam went over the handlebars and the stone wall, and I flew over the top of her and somersaulted, landing in a little grass patch with stones around." The Far South Coast woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegean, to Athens for treatment. She had been in the hospital for two weeks when she spoke to ACM's Bega District News on July 14. "The first week was horrendous to say the least," Ms Massey said. She described her hospital room as being from the 1970s. "There's nothing modern. There are no curtains around to separate people. The window in the room is broken. It's 37 degrees outside and [it feels like] it's 90 in here," Ms Massey said. "I am starting to improve a bit, health-wise, but not many people speak English fluently, so I have to rely on other people to tell me what they've said. "They are looking at transferring me to a physiotherapy facility rather than being in the hospital, because of the chance of getting an infection, and they don't want that to happen. "I've probably got another three weeks. They're saying August 9 is when I will be clear to fly." When Narelle returns to Sydney, she said she will have surgery on her pelvis and hip. Aaron said he wouldn't be leaving her until he could bring her back home. "When I first spoke to her, she said, 'Bring me home'. That's my job. If she asks, I'm doing it," he said. A GoFundMe was organised to help Narelle, Aaron and Pam with miscellaneous incidental costs until they are all home. Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here.
The Advertiser
11-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Son vows to get injured lifesaver mum home from Greece after serious crash
An injured Australian resident lies alone in a Greek public hospital with no privacy, a language barrier, unclothed, with just a sheet across her. Narelle Massey was on an overseas holiday and had been enjoying an ATV ride with her sister when the unthinkable occurred, which resulted in numerous injuries. Narelle, from Merimbula in NSW, sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. The woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegea, to Athens for treatment. But her son Aaron Reid said the experience had been terrible. Aaron was standing at the Sydney International Airport on July 10, with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to fly to see his mum and arrange plans to bring her home. "I won't be leaving her until I bring her back home," he told ACM's Bega District News. "Mum's an amazing human, mate. She's a volunteer surf life saver and helps every year with the Pambula same wave program." "She's been a surf lifesaver since 17. She was one of the first female life rescue radio operators. "I just have to get there," Mr Reid stressed. He said it had been difficult to communicate due to the difference in time zones and the language barrier. However, he had spoken with the embassy over there numerous times and they had helped. Narelle and her sister Pam were originally going to the United Kingdom for a family wedding, but had decided to go via Greece when the unfortunate incident happened. Due to a health insurance dispute with Narelle's bank, Aaron was looking to an ombudsman. "They denied the insurance. She thought she was covered for the ATV, and they've denied it all. We have the reports for it all," he said. "It went from bad to worse. It's been frustrating for everyone involved." Tracy Wallis, a friend of Narelle's from Yellow Pinch, organised a GoFundMe to raise donations to help bring her home to the Far South Coast. "She's pretty down," Ms Wallis said, as she described her friend's spirits. "She had her insurance. She rang them and asked them before she went on the quad bike if she needed extra cover, as she's a very cross-the-T's and dot-the-I's type of person," she said. "They told her no. She accepted that the insurance she had would be ok. "Since she had the [incident] they are refusing to cover her because she didn't have the extra cover." Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. An injured Australian resident lies alone in a Greek public hospital with no privacy, a language barrier, unclothed, with just a sheet across her. Narelle Massey was on an overseas holiday and had been enjoying an ATV ride with her sister when the unthinkable occurred, which resulted in numerous injuries. Narelle, from Merimbula in NSW, sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. The woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegea, to Athens for treatment. But her son Aaron Reid said the experience had been terrible. Aaron was standing at the Sydney International Airport on July 10, with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to fly to see his mum and arrange plans to bring her home. "I won't be leaving her until I bring her back home," he told ACM's Bega District News. "Mum's an amazing human, mate. She's a volunteer surf life saver and helps every year with the Pambula same wave program." "She's been a surf lifesaver since 17. She was one of the first female life rescue radio operators. "I just have to get there," Mr Reid stressed. He said it had been difficult to communicate due to the difference in time zones and the language barrier. However, he had spoken with the embassy over there numerous times and they had helped. Narelle and her sister Pam were originally going to the United Kingdom for a family wedding, but had decided to go via Greece when the unfortunate incident happened. Due to a health insurance dispute with Narelle's bank, Aaron was looking to an ombudsman. "They denied the insurance. She thought she was covered for the ATV, and they've denied it all. We have the reports for it all," he said. "It went from bad to worse. It's been frustrating for everyone involved." Tracy Wallis, a friend of Narelle's from Yellow Pinch, organised a GoFundMe to raise donations to help bring her home to the Far South Coast. "She's pretty down," Ms Wallis said, as she described her friend's spirits. "She had her insurance. She rang them and asked them before she went on the quad bike if she needed extra cover, as she's a very cross-the-T's and dot-the-I's type of person," she said. "They told her no. She accepted that the insurance she had would be ok. "Since she had the [incident] they are refusing to cover her because she didn't have the extra cover." Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. An injured Australian resident lies alone in a Greek public hospital with no privacy, a language barrier, unclothed, with just a sheet across her. Narelle Massey was on an overseas holiday and had been enjoying an ATV ride with her sister when the unthinkable occurred, which resulted in numerous injuries. Narelle, from Merimbula in NSW, sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. The woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegea, to Athens for treatment. But her son Aaron Reid said the experience had been terrible. Aaron was standing at the Sydney International Airport on July 10, with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to fly to see his mum and arrange plans to bring her home. "I won't be leaving her until I bring her back home," he told ACM's Bega District News. "Mum's an amazing human, mate. She's a volunteer surf life saver and helps every year with the Pambula same wave program." "She's been a surf lifesaver since 17. She was one of the first female life rescue radio operators. "I just have to get there," Mr Reid stressed. He said it had been difficult to communicate due to the difference in time zones and the language barrier. However, he had spoken with the embassy over there numerous times and they had helped. Narelle and her sister Pam were originally going to the United Kingdom for a family wedding, but had decided to go via Greece when the unfortunate incident happened. Due to a health insurance dispute with Narelle's bank, Aaron was looking to an ombudsman. "They denied the insurance. She thought she was covered for the ATV, and they've denied it all. We have the reports for it all," he said. "It went from bad to worse. It's been frustrating for everyone involved." Tracy Wallis, a friend of Narelle's from Yellow Pinch, organised a GoFundMe to raise donations to help bring her home to the Far South Coast. "She's pretty down," Ms Wallis said, as she described her friend's spirits. "She had her insurance. She rang them and asked them before she went on the quad bike if she needed extra cover, as she's a very cross-the-T's and dot-the-I's type of person," she said. "They told her no. She accepted that the insurance she had would be ok. "Since she had the [incident] they are refusing to cover her because she didn't have the extra cover." Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here. An injured Australian resident lies alone in a Greek public hospital with no privacy, a language barrier, unclothed, with just a sheet across her. Narelle Massey was on an overseas holiday and had been enjoying an ATV ride with her sister when the unthinkable occurred, which resulted in numerous injuries. Narelle, from Merimbula in NSW, sustained a punctured lung, splenic hematoma, fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken pelvis. The woman was airlifted from Naxos, a Greek island in the South Aegea, to Athens for treatment. But her son Aaron Reid said the experience had been terrible. Aaron was standing at the Sydney International Airport on July 10, with a wheelchair among his luggage, prepared to fly to see his mum and arrange plans to bring her home. "I won't be leaving her until I bring her back home," he told ACM's Bega District News. "Mum's an amazing human, mate. She's a volunteer surf life saver and helps every year with the Pambula same wave program." "She's been a surf lifesaver since 17. She was one of the first female life rescue radio operators. "I just have to get there," Mr Reid stressed. He said it had been difficult to communicate due to the difference in time zones and the language barrier. However, he had spoken with the embassy over there numerous times and they had helped. Narelle and her sister Pam were originally going to the United Kingdom for a family wedding, but had decided to go via Greece when the unfortunate incident happened. Due to a health insurance dispute with Narelle's bank, Aaron was looking to an ombudsman. "They denied the insurance. She thought she was covered for the ATV, and they've denied it all. We have the reports for it all," he said. "It went from bad to worse. It's been frustrating for everyone involved." Tracy Wallis, a friend of Narelle's from Yellow Pinch, organised a GoFundMe to raise donations to help bring her home to the Far South Coast. "She's pretty down," Ms Wallis said, as she described her friend's spirits. "She had her insurance. She rang them and asked them before she went on the quad bike if she needed extra cover, as she's a very cross-the-T's and dot-the-I's type of person," she said. "They told her no. She accepted that the insurance she had would be ok. "Since she had the [incident] they are refusing to cover her because she didn't have the extra cover." Those wishing to donate can find the fundraiser here.
