Latest news with #RoyalPrinceAlfredHospital
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
‘No one told us': Daughters demand answers after Qantas employee plummets 6m from airbridge
The daughters of a Qantas staff member who was seriously injured after falling six metres from an airbridge at Sydney Airport are demanding answers, saying they have been left in the dark. Olivia Hristovska, a Qantas customer service employee, was working at Sydney Airport in May when she peered under the airbridge. In footage obtained by 9News, Ms Hristovska, 51, stepped forward to peer through a gap in the airbridge wall when she plummeted through a gap below, hitting the ground 6m below. Ms Hristovska was rushed to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition, where she was placed in an induced coma. She suffered severe head injuries, a fractured spine, broke her clavicle, pelvis and multiple ribs, and had a collapsed lung. The woman's daughters said they were left in the dark about their mother's accident, saying they were initially only given 'limited information' and that their mother had 'had a fall'. 'No one actually told us what had happened,' daughter Monique told 9News, adding she learned about the circumstances from doctors and the media. The two daughters are pleading for more information about the incident to be revealed. Their mother has since been discharged from the hospital but requires full-time care, provided by her two daughters. Daughter Monique said her mother had 'lost her whole identity' since the incident. 'I've had so many moments of anger, but I am just so grateful she is here,' she said. Qantas executive manager global airports Darsh Chapman said the airline was working to help Ms Hristovka and her family. 'We are truly sorry for the devastating incident that occurred to one of our team members at Sydney Airport last month and acknowledge the significant impact this has had on Olivia and her family,' Ms Chapman said in a statement to NewsWire. 'We have had a number of conversations and correspondence with Olivia's family since the day of the incident and have offered our full support through this incredibly difficult time. 'We are here to assist Olivia in any way we can through her recovery while also respecting her family's request for privacy during this stage of her recovery. 'Everyone at Qantas and Sydney Airport wants to know exactly what happened and we are supporting SafeWork NSW as it conducts a full investigation into the incident.' Ms Chapman said both Qantas and Sydney Airport had now put in place enhanced safety procedures. Qantas has also engaged independent experts to look at how safety can be improved on aerobridges at airports around Australia and the world.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
What REALLY happened when a Qantas employee fell through a gaping hole in an aerobridge - as traumatised colleagues hit back at online trolls blaming HER for the five-metre fall
The traumatised colleagues of a Qantas employee who was left comatose after plunging five metres through a hole in an aerobridge have shared new details about the horror fall - and sent a powerful message to her online trolls. Emergency services were called to Sydney Airport at about 1pm on Saturday following reports the female worker in her 40s had fallen onto the tarmac. Paramedics treated her for critical head and internal injuries before she was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in an induced coma. The hospital has declined to provide further information on the request of her family. What caused the incident is unclear, however, images of a gaping hole in the aerobridge have sparked speculation from armchair detectives online. The internet has since run wild with theories, prompting one Qantas employee who claimed to have been working at the time to respond. 'So many unnecessary and uniformed comments as to the true facts that let to this tragic accident today,' she wrote on a Facebook post. 'Please don't speculate what happened to the staff member. I was on shift when this incident unfolded and had traumatised many Qantas staff.' She added the woman followed 'all the correct safety procedures'. Another Facebook user purported to have inside knowledge on the incident and the woman's subsequent medial treatment. 'She was leaning on the side of the aerobridge and it buckled out, separating from the floor. A male colleague tried to grab her to no avail,' she wrote. 'She was unresponsive for 15 minutes, but was revived in the ambulance and then put into an induced coma. She has head injuries and most likely broken bones.' In an update the user wrote: 'Update on aerobridge fall. She has bleeding on the brain and was operated on last night. 'She has a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and probably a broken pelvis. She fell sideways, then backwards, and hit her head. She is not breathing on her own yet. What an absolutely tragedy.' Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the woman's claims are true. She did not respond to a request for comment. A parent of a Qantas employee, who she claimed witnessed the incident, defended the woman after a post attracted a series of insensitive comments from trolls. Safework NSW is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, while Qantas said their focus was on supporting the injured worker 'How dare you, my daughter was a co-worker there and she was put into a coma. Think of her family,' she wrote. Meanwhile, purported associates of the woman have shared messages of support, including one Qantas employee who said she was praying for her. 'So devastating,' she added. A spokesperson for Sydney Airport confirmed a fall had taken place but refused to comment on the images of the hole in the aerobridge. 'On Saturday, an airline employee fell from an aerobridge in the T3 Domestic Terminal,' they said. 'They were attended to by first-aid responders and transferred by ambulance to hospital for further treatment. 'Aerobridges are subject to frequent inspections and are serviced as part of a scheduled systematic preventative maintenance program.' Sydney Airport confirmed Safe Work NSW was conducting investigations. 'Our focus is on the welfare of the injured staff member and assisting Safe Work NSW with their enquiries,' a spokesperson continued. 'We have also made our Employee Assistance Program available to all precinct workers for counselling and support services.' Qantas said its focus was supporting the injured team member. 'Sydney Airport and Qantas will be assisting Safe Work NSW with their investigation,' a spokesperson said. A spokesperson for Safework NSW confirmed investigations are 'ongoing', adding '
The Age
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Elderly man wearing MAGA hat allegedly assaulted at polling booth in PM's electorate
An elderly man who allegedly attempted to deface an Anthony Albanese corflute at a polling booth in the prime minister's Sydney electorate has been seriously injured when a 17-year-old boy allegedly assaulted him. The man in his 80s wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' hat reportedly attempted to vandalise the corflute outside the Ashfield Civic Centre in the seat of Grayndler around 1pm. Nine News reports that a political volunteer had asked the elderly man not to deface the signage when he reportedly became aggressive. The 17-year-old, who was passing by, then allegedly approached the man and struck him, causing him to fall to the ground. The elderly man was treated on the scene by paramedics before being rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious condition. The teenager was arrested at the scene on Liverpool Road and taken to Burwood police station, where he is assisting police with their inquiries. He isn't believed to have any official political affiliation. A number of other witnesses, including campaign volunteers, have given witness statements to the police, who established a crime scene and collected several corflutes for forensic examination. A spokesperson for the Australian Electoral Commission said the incident 'occurred outside of our polling place and did not involve any AEC staff'.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Elderly man wearing MAGA hat allegedly assaulted at polling booth in PM's electorate
An elderly man who allegedly attempted to deface an Anthony Albanese corflute at a polling booth in the prime minister's Sydney electorate has been seriously injured when a 17-year-old boy allegedly assaulted him. The man in his 80s wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' hat reportedly attempted to vandalise the corflute outside the Ashfield Civic Centre in the seat of Grayndler around 1pm. Nine News reports that a political volunteer had asked the elderly man not to deface the signage when he reportedly became aggressive. The 17-year-old, who was passing by, then allegedly approached the man and struck him, causing him to fall to the ground. The elderly man was treated on the scene by paramedics before being rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious condition. The teenager was arrested at the scene on Liverpool Road and taken to Burwood police station, where he is assisting police with their inquiries. He isn't believed to have any official political affiliation. A number of other witnesses, including campaign volunteers, have given witness statements to the police, who established a crime scene and collected several corflutes for forensic examination. A spokesperson for the Australian Electoral Commission said the incident 'occurred outside of our polling place and did not involve any AEC staff'.
