Lydia Gilchrist’s mother opens up after heartbreaking loss one year on

Almost a year on from a tragic car crash, which killed her 16-year-old daughter, a Logan mum has emotionally recalled the “longest and quickest” three days of her life.

Lydia Gilchrist and her mum, Carly Townsend.

“She did not deserve that because she was the best thing ever.”

Almost a year on from a tragic car crash, which killed her 16-year-old daughter, Carly Townsend has emotionally recalled what she called the “longest and quickest” three days of her life.

Daisy Hill’s Lydia Gilchrist was seriously injured after a single-vehicle crash at New Beith just after midnight on October 8 last year, where she was a passenger in a four-wheel-drive which left the roadway and crashed into a culvert.

The Rochedale State High School student was transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital and was fighting for her life but died from her injuries three days later.

“We got a phone call just before midnight telling us the kids had been in an accident and that Lydia was in a real bad way,” Ms Townsend said.

Lydia Gilchrist, who died in a tragic car crash at Logan last October.

“We went straight to the hospital and the first time I saw her, I thought she looked good, I was expecting the worst, I was expecting cuts and blood but there was nothing, she was still the most beautiful thing.

“Some of her teeth were smashed and I remember thinking she’s going to flip when she seems them, she worked so hard on her teeth but she still looked perfect.

Lydia Gilchrist, who died in a tragic car crash at Logan last October.

“The doctors initially were thinking she wasn’t that bad and then it just went in 12 hour leaps from we’re OK to now we’re not OK and then now things are really bad.

“It was the longest and quickest three days of my life.”

The driver of the car, who was 17-years-old at the time of the crash, was taken to hospital and made a full recovery.

Now 18-years-old, the driver was charged with one count of drive without due care or attention causing death or grievous bodily harm.

He will appear at the Southport Childrens Court in October.

Lydia Gilchrist, who died in a tragic car crash at Logan last October.

In the weeks following the tragedy, social media and Lydia’s family were flooded by tributes to the teenager, who was known as ‘Pearl’ to those close to her.

“It was overwhelming but in a good way for us to know how much people loved her, just like we did,” Ms Townsend said.

“It made me proud as a mum that I raised her right but it was bittersweet, she did not deserve that because she was the best thing ever.”

But Ms Townsend said there was now a hole in her life.

“She was a force to be reckoned with my daughter – she was loud, she was funny, she would just walk into the room and everyone would just be drawn to her and she was beautiful to look at.

Lydia Gilchrist, who died in a tragic car crash at Logan last October.

“Lydia just had a beautiful presence and any achievement I had she would be so proud, she would make everything a big deal.

“Now, it feels like you don’t have anyone celebrating you anymore, her ability to do that at 16 and younger, it was huge.”

With the one-year anniversary of Lydia’s death just weeks away, Ms Townsend said she was not sure what they would do on the day.

“We don’t have anything planned, I’ve taken the day off work because I know I won’t be in the mind frame to work but we did something really beautiful for her birthday – I suppose that was more to be celebrated,” she said.

Flowers cover Lydia Gilchrist's grave as her loved ones mark her first birthday since the tragic crash which ended her life.

“The build up of (her birthday) and the thought that I can’t buy her a birthday or a Christmas present anymore was extremely hard because that’s what you do and look forward to as a parent.” 

As she relives the moment her life changed forever, Ms Townsend said it still didn’t feel real.

“My sister and I have always had this saying one day at a time, I know it’s a bit cliche but it’s the only way we’ve been able to deal with it,” she said.

“You just wake up some days are OK and then there’s some days where it hits you like a Mack truck.

“You try and get back to work and back to what our life was before the accident, I don’t know if that’s right or wrong but that’s how we’ve dealt with it.”

Ms Townsend also had some advice for parents as she continues to try and cope with the loss of her daughter.

“I guess for me and my son Nash, every little moment is so precious and that’s probably what I want people to know,” she said.

“It doesn’t have to be big moments, just the little moments are so big.

“Just embrace every time that you get with them because you don't know if it may be the last.”