Well wishes flood in for Dawn Fraser after hospitalisation

Fans and officials have paid tribute to legendary Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser after she was hospitalised following a fall.

Dawn Fraser spectates on day three of the ISPS Handa Australian Open 2024 at Kingston Heath Golf Club on November 30, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.Picture: Getty

Australian living legend Dawn Fraser is in a Queensland hospital with serious injuries, including broken ribs, after the 87-year-old suffered a fall.

Her daughter, Dawn-Lorraine Ware, told The Daily Telegraph on Monday night: “At this time she is out of intensive care and doing much better than she was. She should hopefully be OK”.

In a later statement on behalf of Fraser’s family, Dawn- Lorraine added: “Mum has scared the daylights out of us. But to see her up and about today is the best Christmas present we could have asked for. She is one tough lady.

“Huge thanks to the doctors and nursing staff who have been amazing. I can’t thank them enough. They could not be happier with Mum’s progress.”

The national treasure, who is now living in Noosa, was admitted to hospital last Wednesday and underwent emergency surgery for a hip replacement the following day.

Portrait of legendary Australian Olympian Dawn Fraser at the Australian Olympic Committee One Year to Go to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games event. Picture. Phil Hillyard

She remained in intensive care until Monday, with news of her accident and her hospitalisation kept secret for several days due to the severity of her condition.

Fraser also suffered a gashed arm in the fall.

According to the statement , Fraser is back on her feet, making “amazing progress” and with doctors reading her the riot actfor “walking too far”.

Australian Olympic Committee CEO Matt Carroll said: “Dawn is an Olympic legend and she has continued to give back to sportfor decades. We wish her the best in her recovery.”

Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse said: “Dawn is a living treasure - an icon of our sport - and we wish her a speedy, healthy and full recovery.”

The news of Fraser’s injuries also prompted an outpouring of well wishes on The Daily Telegraph’s website.

Dawn Fraser AO MBE speaks during the Sport Australia Hall of Fame 35th Induction and Awards Gala Dinner in 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

“Hang in there Dawnie, genuine treasures are hard to come by these days,” wrote one reader.

Another added: “In a time when the term ‘legend’ is thrown around way too easily, ‘Our Dawn’ is a true legend and deservesthe title. Wishing her a speedy recovery.”

A Noosaville home with ties to the Fraser family, according to property data, was quiet earlier today apart from one vehicle,spotted coming in and out of the gated residence.

Neighbours remained tight-lipped as they went about their business.

The nation’s most iconic sporting figure alongside the late Sir Donald Bradman, Fraser was crowned World Athlete of the Centuryat the World Sports Awards in Vienna in 1999.

She also was the first female elevated to Legend status by the Australian Sport Hall of Fame (ASHF).

On her induction in 1993, the ASHF wrote: “Dawn Fraser was … one of the most decorated athletes in Australian sport historywhile demonstrating the larrikin behaviour to match her ability.

Swimmer Dawn Fraser training at Olympic Pool, Adelaide, 24 Nov 1961.

27Swimmer Dawn Fraser after her race at the National Swimming titles at Fortitude Valley Swimming Pool in Brisbane, 1961. Picture: Jim Fenwick.

“Her record in the pool included eight Olympic medals, six British Empire and Commonwealth gold medals and setting 23 individualworld records. Dawn’s dominance of the 100m freestyle was part of her legacy, claiming the Olympic title at the 1956 Melbourne,1960 Rome and 1964 Tokyo Games, the first swimmer (of either gender) to win gold in three successive Games.”

Her dominance of the pool and her ongoing contribution to sport, has embedded her in the hearts of Australians for almost70 years.

Fraser received an OBE in 1967 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1998.