Gee family’s double heartbreak following devastating 2022 Mother’s Day crash

A heartbroken mother will have to help her son learn to walk again after he was involved in a horror Mother’s Day crash on the Centenary Hwy that killed two other men.

A South East Queensland mother has recalled the shocking moment she realised her son was on death’s door following a double fatal crash on Mother’s Day on the Centenary Highway.

Vikki Gee was working remotely near Rockhampton when she received the life changing phone call just after 8am.

On that day two men lost their lives and three others, including her son, were hospitalised.

Vaea Taavale from Marsden and Anthony Cooper from Mount Warren Park, both died at the scene.

28-year-old Camira man Zach Gee. Photo – contributed.

In what can only be classed a miracle, Vikki’s son Zach Gee, 28, survived the crash. He was a passenger of the Mazda driven by his friend Anthony Cooper.

Zach was resuscitated at the scene before being transported to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with life threatening injuries.

“They just told me over the phone that he was in a critical condition after a car accident and had several broken bones in his legs and internal damage to his bowels, kidney and liver,” Mrs Gee said.

Zach required an emergency surgery and no one knew if he would make it.

“I was told I’d better rush to the hospital as quickly as possible if I wanted a chance to say goodbye,” Mrs Gee said.

The surgery lasted more than six hours and it saved his life.

“It took me four hours to get to Rockhampton and then another five hours to get a flight to Brisbane,” Mrs Gee said.

28-year-old Camira man Zach Gee with his mother Vikki Gee. Photo – contributed.

When Mrs Gee walked into the hospital and saw her son’s broken body in ICU, it took her to a traumatic moment she thought she’d never have to relive.

“My husband, his father, had an unexpected stroke about three years ago and died in hospital,” she said.

“When I first saw Zach in hospital after his surgery it took me right back to that moment.

“He looked exactly like this father did when he was in hospital … right before he died.

“I remember thinking I can’t lose Zach too. It was the worst Mother’s Day ever.”

That day their family friend, Anthony Cooper, was driving Zach to the airport.

“He was moving to Airlie Beach to live with some mates,” Mrs Gee said.

“After a really tough three years he was getting his fresh start.”

Mrs Gee said Zach is still in hospital and he has a very long road to recovery ahead of him.

“He’s devastated about what happened and Anthony dying,” she said.

“It’s going to be a long journey … he still can’t walk and will be in hospital for a long time.

“I’m so grateful he’s alive. I don’t know if I’d survive losing him too.

“He has a heart of gold, is a gentle giant, family orientated and he just loves his friends and family so much.”

28-year-old Camira man Zach Gee. Photo – contributed.

A friend, Amanda Maskell, has recently started a GoFundMe page to support Vikki and the Gee family.

“He has a long road to recovery at this point. He is now out of ICU which is great news but will need a lot of care for a long while,” Ms Maskell said.

“Vikki now has to travel daily all the way from the Gold Coast to the Royal Brisbane with fuel costs and parking cost and I can’t imagine the stress they are both under.”