Robert ‘Massy’ Smith’s life-support switched off after freak holiday accident

A heartbroken son has shared the last words he said to his father before his life-support was switched off in Townsville hospital following a horror fall.

Robert “Massy” Smith, 51, was rushed to Townsville Hospital with a fractured skull after a "freak accident" on July 21. Picture: Submitted

The heartbroken family of a 51-year-old man who had his life support turned off after falling in a “freak accident” have described their final moments with the “one-of-a-kind” dad.

NSW man Robert “Massy” Smith, 51, was on holiday in Cairns when he fell in a “freak accident” and fractured his skull, leaving him with severe bleeding to the brain on July 21.

The father of six was rushed to Townsville Hospital, and family quickly flew in from across the country to be by his bedside before he died on Wednesday.

Tragically Mr Smith’s condition has only worsened in recent days after he slipped into a coma due to the lack of blood flow to his brain.

Classed as brain dead, Massy’s family were forced to make the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support.

Robert “Massy” Smith and his son Robbie.

“It’s been so hard,” his son Robbie said.

“My dad’s one of a kind — he’s the most kind-hearted, gentle person ever.”

Robbie was able to speak with his dad one last time in hospital while he was slipping in and out of consciousness two days ago.

“The last conversation I had with my dad, I told him I love him,” he said.

“I told him I’d see him in the morning and kissed him on the head and didn’t think anything of it.

“It was such a shock when we got a call that he’d been rushed to the ICU later because I thought he was getting better.

“The swelling to his brain got worse and started crushing the inside of the skull, and that’s when it started killing brain cells.

Robert “Massy” Smith, 51, was rushed to Townsville Hospital with a fractured skull after a "freak accident" on July 21. He's pictured at his son Robbie’s wedding earlier this year

“We had a meeting with the doctors on Monday, and they said 90 per cent of his brain had no blood flow. There was nothing else they could do.”

He said a GoFundMe set up to support Massy’s medical costs and the family’s accommodation would now be used to help take Massy home to Stuarts Point, NSW and lay him to rest.

The fundraiser, which has raised $8000 so far, has been shared and supported by the likes of Rabbitohs player Latrell Mitchell and martial artist Tai Tuivasa.

A landscaper by trade, Mr Smith’s known for being an NRL diehard and “crazy Rabbitohs supporter”.

“We’d appreciate any help people can offer because it’s going to be an expensive process to take dad home,” Robbie said.

“Everyone in our hometown in Stuarts Point calls him uncle Mass, he had a lot of respect.”

Originally published as Robert ‘Massy’ Smith’s life-support switched off after freak holiday accident