Caboolture father of three comatose for more than 20 days after horrific Bruce Highway smash

A young family has been left devastated after a father of three was left comatosed following a horrific crash on the Bruce Highway at Caboolture.

A young mother has been left shattered begging her partner ‘to wake up, come back to us’ after a horrific crash left him fighting for life in a Brisbane hospital.

Bryce Dowsett, 26, was riding home to Caboolture from work when he was involved in an accident on the Bruce Highway ramp and Bribie Island Road on September 21.

Police were forced to close the northbound lanes at Caboolture after the crash happened about 1pm.

Helicopter footage of a serious truck and motorcycle crash on the Bruce Highway at Caboolture. Picture: 7 News

Critical care paramedics rushed the rider to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a critical condition where he remains in a coma after suffering traumatic injuries.

The young father of three beautiful girls has so far failed to regain consciousness.

He remains in intensive care at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital after suffering from broken bone and skin injuries as well as a brain bleed.

His partner, Elizabeth Pritchard, has been left to pick up the pieces, travelling back and forth to the hospital while caring for their little ones.

Her sister Kristen Feldman says they’re still unsure exactly what happened.

“We’ve only been able to piece together little bits and pieces based on what the police have said and the ambulance (sic) has said,” she said.

“From what we can tell Bryce was on his motorbike and somehow found himself between two trucks or near two trucks.

“He’s lost control of his vehicle, it was on that really windy Tuesday about three weeks ago.

“He’s kind of lost control of his bike and hit the side of one truck and then bounced off that and then hit another truck and gone underneath that.”

Ms Feldman said the 26-year-old was placed in an induced coma initially, however he has remained unconscious for more than 20 days.

“(There is) a lot of damage to his brain,” she said.

“They had to relieve the pressure and release fluids from his skull, his collar bone was broken, a couple of days later they performed a procedure to remove the gravel embedded in his skin.

“His brain hasn’t woken up yet – the doctors aren’t keeping him medically comatosed, his own body just is comatosed at this point.”

Ms Feldman says doctors have been cautious with their diagnosis.

“They’re basically saying there’s as much chance of him never regaining consciousness as there is of him regaining consciousness,” she said.

“They’re comparing the trauma that happened to his head like shaking baby syndrome- it’s been rattled and moved around so much they literally don’t know what sort of condition it is in.

“They’ve told my sister to be prepared for a long haul, my sister is being very hopefully but … they don’t know what’s going to happen next.”

She described the “jack-of-all-trades” as a quiet man and loving father.

“He’s a quiet man, he doesn’t talk all that much but he spends time with his girls, he’s patient with them, he’s a good father,” she said.

“He’s just so grateful for the simple things.”

The couple's three children, aged 1,3 and 4 have been left to wonder when their daddy might be coming home.

Covid restrictions have so far kept the family of five apart.

“The kids can’t come with her because of Covid, not that she really wants them to see their dad like that,” Ms Feldman said.

“Especially the older ones that‘s a trauma they don’t need.”

Her concern is now for his young family with costs and pressure mounting on his partner of five years.

“Their young family is now missing an income with the added stress of fuel and parking costs associated with hospital stays, which if you have had family in extended hospital stay you may know how expensive it can be,” Ms Feldman said.

She has since launched a fundraising effort in a bid to support the family.

So far 22 donors have contributed $2675.

If you would like to help Bryce and his family visit this link.