Terra Firma Dining: Charles Prétet starts fundraiser after car rollover
A Tewantin business owner and his workers have been left battered and traumatised after two rogue caravans forced their car to roll on a rural road, causing $20,000 in damages.
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A Tewantin business owner has been left to pick up the pieces after two rogue caravans caused him to roll his car on a rural highway near Gympie, causing $20,000 in damages.
Terra Firma Dining owner Charles Prétet and his workers Vitor Rezendee and Tjay Watts were lucky to escape with their lives after the car they travelled in rolled in Woolooga on May 1, 2022.
The French-born chef said he and his team were travelling back from catering a wedding in Gladstone when two rogue drivers towing caravans caused him to roll his vehicle.
“I had to make a hard left turn to avoid them driving in the middle of the road and I lost control of the car,” Mr Prétet said.
“We ended up on the side of the road completely crushed with all catering equipment destroyed.
“The caravans didn’t stop.”
Miraculously all three men escaped serious injuries but found themselves in an area with no phone reception.
They had to wait until the next car came upon the crumpled wreck, with the good Samaritans driving the men 20km away to find phone reception.
An hour later emergency services arrived to treat the men, including Mr Prétet’s chef Mr Rezende who suffered a large cut to his arm which required 17 stitches.
“It was really quite shocking but I’m glad we didn’t have any major injuries besides some cuts on our hands,” Mr Prétet said.
“It’s an absolute miracle and we’re very lucky considering what the car looks like.”
Mr Prétet is now faced with a bill of $20,000 after his vehicle, trailer and catering supplies were destroyed in the crash.
“It’s very devastating, especially the mental shock, the guys and I still get flashes from the crash,” he said.
“Sometimes they happen during the day and I’ll be thinking about nothing and then I’ll have vision of the crash since I was conscious the whole time.”
Mr Prétet started his event catering business Terra Firma Dining in June 2021 and ten months on has a packed calendar of weddings heading into winter.
They’re unique catering includes cooking on a fire pit installation with local produce over hot coals, being more than an average barbecue.
“Winter is our high period and we have weddings interstate,” he said.
“I’m trying to raise a $15,000 deposit so I can engage with a finance company for a new car and trailer to replace the damaged equipment so we can get back on the road as soon as possible.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been created by the Terra Firmer owner to raise money for a new car and trailer.
You can donate here.
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