Swimming for the service that saved her husband’s life
Bryony and Aaron Gray.
A year after her husband survived a near-fatal motorcycle crash, Nambour woman Bryony Gray is turning gratitude into action — swimming 5km to raise money for the LifeFlight crews she says gave her family a second chance.
On Thursday November 20, exactly one year since the accident, Mrs Gray will take to the pool at Nambour Aquatic Centre in a personal challenge to support the LifeFlight Foundation, helping fund lifesaving equipment, critical-care medical teams and aeromedical training.
Nambour Aquatic Centre manager Kate Baker said the whole squad was behind her.
“We are super proud of B for pushing her limits and challenging herself alongside her squad mates to raise awareness and funds,” Ms Baker said. “LifeFlight makes a difference in the lives of critically ill or injured people every single day.”
For Mrs Gray, the effort is deeply personal.
In November 2024, her husband Aaron Gray, 61, was severely injured in a motorcycle accident on the Old Bruce Highway near Pomona. Despite riding safely and wearing full protective gear — including a new helmet Mrs Gray had recently bought him — the impact left him with a traumatic brain injury, blood and air in his chest cavity, degloving injuries and around 30 fractures, including to his skull, sternum, spine, ribs, arm and leg.
“He was placed in a coma and airlifted 135km to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital,” Mrs Gray said. “Because of LifeFlight, Aaron was treated promptly at the scene and during the flight by a critical-care doctor.”
RBWH neurosurgeons were astonished by his early progress. Despite warnings that his brain injuries could severely affect his speech, personality and cognitive function, Mr Gray shocked the medical team.
“Against all odds, he was able to speak and knew who we were,” Mrs Gray said.
He spent 10 weeks in hospital, followed by 8 weeks in rehab, and continues physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Almost a year on, he has defied expectations and returned to work part-time, carrying extensive scarring from the crash.
“It could so easily have been a very different outcome,” Mrs Gray said. “Thankfully, LifeFlight was there to help Aaron. We’re incredibly grateful — and now I’m swimming to help LifeFlight continue saving lives like his.”
To support Mrs Gray’s 5km LifeFlight fundraiser, visit the Nambour Aquatic Centre’s social channels for donation links. To donate check out Bryony’s fundraiser: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/9jqAxTzzED