Beloved grandma Megan Phillips’s hospital battle after horror Fernvale crash

A beloved grandmother is fighting an uphill hospital battle after a horror crash on her way to get groceries put her in a coma with life-altering injuries.

A family who are still grieving the loss of a beloved father have shared their horror after watching their “much-loved” grandmother be airlifted to hospital following a nightmare crash.

Lowood grandmother Megan Phillips, 77, was taken to hospital on February 11 after a simple trip to Woolworths ended in horror.

The driver of the other car Bill Mctackett died in hospital the same day, while Ms Phillips was placed in a coma for two days with life-altering injuries.

Her daughter-in-law Kelly Palmer shared the family’s devastation over the accident.

She and her four children were been called to the scene after a bystander recognised Ms Phillips and alerted her to what happened.

“When I got there it was a mess,” Ms Palmer said.

“Luckily for Nan there was a ICU nurse there whom was in the area at the time who saved her life.”

A man has died and a woman is critical after a crash at Fernvale on February 11, 2023. Picture: 7 News Brisbane.

Ms Phillips had been struggling to breathe and panicking after seeing smoke coming from her car but the nurse reassured her to stay where she was.

“We are just so grateful and thankful for everyone at the scene as they did absolutely everything to save her and the man,” said Ms Palmer.

Ms Phillips was put into a coma for two days after the crash and woke up on February 13 with a broken sternum, 10 broken ribs and multiple lacerations.

“All she keeps saying is she is so grateful to be alive,” Ms Palmer said.

“I know she will never be the same again though. She was already frail.”

“She is meant to be enjoying her time left not having to suffer in pain.”

Megan Phillips reunited with grandchildren after horror Fernvale crash. Picture: Supplied/Kelly Palmer

Ms Palmer took her children to visit Ms Phillips in hospital yesterday.

She said the experience had been extremely difficult for them as they had only recently lost their father – her partner of 18 years and Ms Phillips’s son.

Ms Palmer recounted how her partner tragically died from liver failure in 2021 after his father died from the same illness before him.

“One day (the children’s) dad was stable then he started vomiting blood, he got rushed to hospital and they put him in a coma in ICU,” she said.

“They (the hospital) told me to bring my kids up to say goodbye to their dad and it happened so quick.

“This is why it was extremely hard for us with his mum … They have endured so much grief and pain already.

“They were there and seen there nan getting taken from the chopper. They seen her lying in the hospital bed like their dad … They thought she wouldn’t wake up.”

Ms Palmer said the family was relieved their beloved gran was now stable but she was “not out of danger yet”.

“Her lungs and kidneys are not the best and this has taken a very big toll on her body,” she said.

Ms Palmer wanted to thank all of the first responders at the scene for all their tireless efforts but wanted her mother-in-law to know people are thinking and caring about her throughout her recovery.

Kelly Palmer put together a touching video tribute after her mother-in-law Megan Phillips suffered life-altering injuries in a horror Fernvale crash. Picture: Supplied/Kelly Palmer

“I see on Facebook many people asking how she is going and they don’t even know her. It’s so nice that people care,” Ms Palmer said.

She said she was very sorry that another family were grieving the loss of a beloved father as a result of the collision as well.

“I have dealt with grief over past year … I know how hard it is,” Ms Palmer said.

“I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

For now, Ms Palmer’s priority is to ensure her mother-in-law knows she is loved and cared for.

“Me and my kids are all she has left and I promised her son just before he died I would always look after his mum, and that’s what I’m going to do,” she said.