An Australian father of two has suffered serious injuries after saving his son who fell from a 13-foot-high balcony.
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Brad Lewis and his 8-year-old son, Oscar, were playing with nerf guns at a friend’s home in Sydney when one of the foam darts was fired over a first-floor balcony. The youngster sprinted over to the railing to retrieve it when, leaning over the edge, he lost his balance.
Brad raced over to his son to stop him from falling, but it was too late. As he grabbed the boy, the pair plunged to the ground. However, in a remarkable moment of bravery and quick-mindedness, the father managed to hold his son close to his chest and maneuver his body around him in order to create a “cushioning effect,” saving Oscar from the brunt of the impact.
Brad’s friend, Beau Worthington, rushed to their aid, “Are the kids okay?” Lewis bellowed immediately, before adding, “Don’t let them see me like this. Don’t let me die, mate.”
“He’s a tough guy,” Worthington told The Daily Telegraph.
No kidding. Brad’s injuries were brutal: a fractured skull, brain bruising, a fractured vertebra and a whole host of other breaks and scrapes. Despite being knocked out for one brief moment, Oscar suffered only minor injuries thanks to his father’s heroic actions. Now, this brave father faces a long road to recovery – doctors estimate that he won’t be fully back on his feet for at least 12 months.
Friends of the family have set up a GoFundMe campaign in order to help raise money for the close-knit family; his wife Susan Bennet-Lewis, Oscar and his brother Connor, 6. So far, just over $74,000 has been raised, though the family has set a target of $150,000.
“As the days go by, the realization of this new reality and the financial implications it will have on the family are just beginning to set in,” the page description reads.
The fundraiser details many of the financial pressures that the family is likely to face in the coming months.
“Brad’s wife, Suz, has taken leave from her new job to care for the family–but the household bills and mortgage repayments keep rolling in. There are mounting costs for travel to and from the hospital for Suz and the boys to visit their husband/dad, parking costs and food bills while they are on the go. When Suz returns to work, there will be additional childcare, baby-sitting and transportation costs to get the two boys to and from school.
And, when Brad does return home, there will be the requirement for in-house care solutions, housework assistance, childcare etc. And, as Brad will be unable to drive for a long period of time, there will still be ongoing travel costs to ferry him to medical appointments and the boys to school and their activities.
The last thing the Lewis family needs right now is financial stress.”
But Lewis himself doesn’t want to be seen as a hero, but just a dad who would do anything to protect his kids.
“I think any father would have done it for their child if put in the same situation,” he said. “I sit here now thanking my lucky stars Oscar and I are both here and are moving forward.”
Bennet-Lewis added that he husband’s actions were “absolutely selfless.”
“Even after the fall, his major concern was that his boys would not see him as he was and that he wanted to be around for them as a dad,” she added.
Do pray for Brad and Oscar as they recover from this freak accident.