Billy Reeves remains in induced coma with serious head injury after rollover at Yuleba North

The family of a man who has been in a coma for more than a week since a serious truck rollover in remote western Queensland are clinging on to hope he will wake up.

Irishman Billy Reeves and his two daughters Violet and Lottie. Photo: Supplied

The family of a man who has been in a coma for more than a week since a serious truck rollover in remote western Queensland are holding onto hope that he will wake up.

Billy Reeves suffered a life-threatening head injury in the crash at Crossroads Rd, Yuleba North, 86km east of Roma on Monday, February 17.

It is understood he was driving a water truck for a company when the rollover happened.

The Roma-based LifeFlight Surat Gas Aeromedical Service (SGAS) aeromedical crew February 17, flown a man to hospital following a water truck rollover. Photo: LifeFlight.

The 46-year-old was treated at the scene by company medics and emergency services for traumatic head injuries before being placed into an induced coma and flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

After emergency surgery was performed to remove clots and stop bleeding on the brain, the Griffin man was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at the PA Hospital where he remains in an induced coma.

Billy Reeves and his partner Danielle Beilby and daughters Violet and Lottie. Photo: Supplied

On Monday, doctors turned off Mr Reeves’ sedation, but he has shown no signs of waking up.

His doting partner and mother of his two daughters, Danielle Beilby, has been at his bedside every single day since the crash.

Billy Reeves and his partner Danielle Beilby. Photo: Supplied

Ms Beilby’s cousin Suzi Thurlow said the mother of two is trying her best to support her partner and family.

“She really is struggling, she’s trying to be here, and also trying to support her little girls,” Ms Thurlow said.

“Her mum, Gloria, is looking after the little girls a lot.”

Ms Thurlow added that while the couple’s two girls Violet, 10, and Lottie, 8, have not been to the hospital to see him – due to the confronting environment of the ICU – they ask after him.

“They ask all the time how’s daddy?” Ms Thurlow said.

“Dani just said he’s still in a coma, he’s still asleep, and we just have to wait for daddy to wake up.”

Billy Reeves and his partner Danielle Beilby and daughters Violet and Lottie. Photo: Supplied

Ms Thurlow went on to praise the Irish community of Griffin and the wider community for their support of the family, with a GoFundMe fundraiser generating more than $45,000 in donations for the family.

“The Irish community in Griffin has just been amazing,” she said.

“They’ve helped with cleaning, food, the kids, taking the kids to play dates, picking them up from school, all sorts of things,” she said.

Ms Thurlow conceded that Mr Reeves has a long fight ahead of him.

“The doctors have turned off his sedation and they hoped that he might show some signs of waking up, but there’s no changes, he’s still in a deep coma,” she said.

“He is in a very bad way, doctors just don’t know if he’s going to wake up.

“We do know that he has had a catastrophic brain injury and he will never be the old Billy as we knew him, and he’s going to need a lot of care and treatment.”

Ms Thurlow described the “old Billy” as a “real Irish larrikin” and a “beautiful person”.

“He’s a real Irish larrikin, loves a beer, of course, being an Irishman,” she said.

“He loves his South Sydney Rabbitohs, he loves going out for breakfast.

“He’s a wonderful partner, provider, he’s a very good dad, he’s loved by everybody.

“He’s just a very decent man, he’s always positive, he’s got lots and lots of friends, he is just a really, a really beautiful person.”

Originally published as Billy Reeves remains in induced coma with serious head injury after rollover at Yuleba North