Fraser Coast’s Ryan family lose caravan in Clairview crash

A Queensland family has spoken of a lucky escape after their caravan was smashed to pieces in a terrifying Bruce Highway crash. SEE AMAZING PHOTOS

The Ryan Family (inset) lost most of their possessions after their caravan was destroyed in a horror crash on the Bruce Highway between Rockhampton and Mackay.

About five months ago the Ryan family sold their Maryborough home, packed their caravan and embarked on the trip of a lifetime to see parts of the country.

They never foresaw the possibility that by the end; all of their belongings and memories would be gone in a horror crash on the Bruce Highway.

A day mum Jessica Ryan thought she was going to die.

The family’s trip began in January where Jessica and Matt Ryan and their four kids Jack, Hunter, Marley and Frankie drove south from the Fraser Coast and working their way around the country.

The Ryan Family from the Fraser Coast had just been on the trip of a lifetime but have since lost all their precious memories following a horror crash on the Bruce Highway.

They visited Fingal Head in New South Wales, Mount Kosciuszko in Victoria, Gibb River Rd in Western Australia and more.

After their car broke down at Cape Tribulation the family hired a motorhome for the long drive home before flying back to Cairns last week to bring the caravan home.

The multi-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway at Clairview on July 15. Picture: RACQ CapRescue

“We had been driving all day the day before and were about an hour into our drive back (to the Fraser Coast) when the crash happened...it was pretty devastating we were so close to home,” Jessica said.

“I slammed on the brakes and went to the left as much as I could, I thought we were going to die in that moment, I thought that was it, but somehow we pulled up safely (in the car)...I don’t know if it was the adrenaline but I don’t remember hearing anything smash.”

Behind them was carnage.

Their caravan, which had been their home for five months, contained most of their possessions.

The Ryan Family from the Fraser Coast had just been on the trip of a lifetime but have since lost all their precious memories following a horror crash on the Bruce Highway.

“We salvaged what we could...we stayed for about four and a half hours waiting for the tow truck, they said to clear it would take about five hours,” she said.

“There was a drone in the van which was pretty new and had all our holiday footage on it, our bikes are all bent...but I think the funniest thing to come out of it is our Corelle dinner set is fine and doesn’t even have a chip in it.

“Life gets too much sometimes, I don’t have my mum anymore she died from a stroke when she was 49, we had a brother-in-law die young, I lost my best friend when she was 21...it’s made us very aware that life is too short.

“I think even in hindsight if we knew something like this was going to happened we still would have done it because you can’t replace the experience our kids have had seeing the whole country at their age.”

The family shared photos and videos with loved ones on their Facebook page ‘Roaming with the Ryan’s’.

“I think all around the kids and us all agree the Gibb River Road was by far the best part of our trip,” Jessica said.

The family’s caravan set up during a stop at South Lefroy Bay in Western Australia.

“We met the most beautiful people, saw the most beautiful parts of our country and there’s lots of jumping off waterfalls and seeing all the gorges and crocodiles in the wild and aboriginal rock art, it was all just amazing.”

The family had to leave their car and caravan in Cairns while it was being repaired after breaking down at Cape Tribulation.

“When I saw the caravan I broke down because it was almost everything we owned, there was memorabilia from the kids and their travel journals and photos and little things we bought along the way...it was just the memories too because it was our home for half the year.

“It was pretty devastating but I also felt pretty guilty for feeling that way when the other driver was not in a good way and we were OK.”

Now home safe in Toogoom near Hervey Bay, the family are picking up the pieces following the crash.

“We’ve been very up and down...they say the first three days are the hardest, I’ve struggled a lot but we’re not doing too bad,” she said.

Police investigation into the crash are ongoing.

Originally published as Fraser Coast’s Ryan family lose caravan in Clairview crash