Dr Bill Griggs’ Goolwa South holiday home destroyed in fire
A prominent retired SA trauma doctor has told of his shock after his holiday home was destroyed in an early-morning fire at Goolwa South. Picture: 9 News
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The holiday home of a renowned South Australian trauma doctor has been gutted in a fierce early-morning blaze at Goolwa South.
Fire crews were alerted to the incident on Barrage Rd just before 5am on Tuesday with 30 Country Fire Service volunteers in six trucks responding. The two-storey home could not be saved and neighbours were evacuated as a precaution.
No one was home at the time.
The property is owned by former director of trauma services at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Dr Bill Griggs.
Following investigations the cause remains undetermined and the estimated damage bill is $1m.
Dr Griggs visited the property on Tuesday morning and said he was happy no one was hurt.
“We spent time there with the kids and stuff over the years, but memories are up in your head,” Dr Griggs told The Advertiser.
“It’s a bit of a shock ... the main thing is no one was hurt and the neighbour’s properties didn’t burn down, that’s a godsend. It could have been a lot worse.”
Dr Griggs was alerted to the fire by a neighbour.
The home was purchased in 2008, and had been used as often as possible on trips with Dr Griggs’ family.
The Order of Australia recipient was one of the founding members of the Australasian Trauma Society and has authored more than 75 publications.
Among his lifetime of accomplishments, his team once saved a STAR Group officers’s life after the victim was shot 14 times during the notorious 1994 Nuriootpa siege.
He also assisted in the recovery efforts in the 2002 Bali bombings.
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