Jet Dennien recovers in Sunshine Coast University Hospital after fatal Nirimba crash

A Sunshine Coast boy with dreams of being an electrical engineer has lost an eye and has a long road to recovery ahead of him after a tragic double-fatal crash on the weekend which claimed the life of his best friend.

Jet Dennien. Pictures - contributed.

A 16-year-old Sunshine Coast boy has lost an eye and has a long road to recovery ahead of him as he grapples with the unimaginable grief of losing his best mate in a horrific double-fatal crash.

Jet Dennien has been in the Sunshine Coast University Hospital since being a passenger in a tragic crash at Nirimba last week.

His best mate, 17-year-old Broc Dawson, sadly died on impact when a man in his 30s riding a motorcycle collided with their Toyota Corolla at the intersection of Central Ave and Aura Boulevard, just after 1am Saturday, September 14.

The rider of the motorcycle was also declared deceased at the scene.

Jet’s mother, Celeste Dennien, of Banya, said the boys were on their way home from McDonald’s when the crash happened.

“They’d both worked that night and were hanging out at our place,” she said.

“Then Broc drove them five minutes away to get hot apple pies.

“They were on their way home. Only two minutes away.”

Broc Dawson and Jet Dennien. Picture – contributed.

Ms Dennien said Jet had a long road to recovery ahead of him.

“He’s got a fractured right shoulder where it meets the shoulder blade which they’re unable to operate on yet because of his eyes,” she said.

“He’s fully blind in his left eye. He can see and read through his right eye. But his depth perception and placement of objects is off.

“On Saturday he had an emergency surgery to remove all of the glass and damaged tissues from both eyes. Then both eyes had to be stitched up.

“The glass went 100 per cent through the entirety of his left eye and 80 per cent through his right eye.”

Jet is set to have an investigative surgery on Friday, September 20, to determine if he can keep his blind, left eye.

“They’ve explained the possibility of removing his left eye,” Ms Dennien said.

“They will look at the back of his eye and remove any further damaged tissues. If they are able to save his eye they will put a false lens in.

“At this stage they won’t touch his right eye.”

Jet Dennien. Picture – contributed.

They are also organising occupational therapy for him.

“He will need to learn how to do almost everything again but with just one eye and the vision impairment,” Ms Dennien said.

“Things like putting on his shoes and other day-to-day stuff. It will be ongoing and about making adjustments for him.”

Beyond proud of her son, Ms Dennien said he’s been incredibly brave but understandably had his ups and downs.

“They were best friends since 2020,” she said.

“When Jet moved to Caloundra Christian College Broc was his buddy and showed him around the school.

“Since then they were inseparable. They were more than best mates. They were soulmates but as friends.

“Within a month of them meeting we all became family.

“We’re all very, very close.”

Jet Dennien and Broc Dawson. Picture – contributed.

His doting mother said she couldn’t believe how maturely her son was handling the tragedy.

“Emotionally he’s grappling with the loss of his best friend and coming to terms with his injuries but he’s incredibly mature,” Ms Dennien said.

“He hasn’t spoken poorly of the motorcyclist who was at fault. He (Jet) said everyone makes mistakes and it is what it is.

“Jet has huge dreams to be an electrical engineer. He’s very dedicated to his studies.

“He’s a very mature young man with a great sense of humour. He’s got an incredible bunch of mates and is very family orientated. He played a lot of sport and loved going to the gym.

“All of that will be put on hold for a while.

“His whole focus was working as hard as he could to save money and get into university to study to be an electrical engineer.”

Jet Dennien in hospital. Picture – contributed.

Jet was a Grade 11 student at Unity College and worked casually at Venice, Caloundra, making pizzas.

“We’re beyond proud of who he is as a person,” Ms Dennien said.

“He’s just a great kid and Broc was too.”

Broc’s parents have been visiting Jet in hospital daily.

“They’ve been coming in to check on and talk to Jet,” Ms Dennien said.

“As much as Broc was a part of our family Jet is a part of theirs too.

“It’s helping them both to grieve.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been to support Jet.

Originally published as Jet Dennien recovers in Sunshine Coast University Hospital after fatal Nirimba crash