A Merimbula mum is calling for council to improve safety on part of the new boardwalk between Merimbula's Rotary Park and Bar Beach after her two-year-old son Zayne slipped underneath and fell metres sustaining a nasty gash to his head and concussion.
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Tarryn Mitchell was walking on the boardwalk on Saturday morning with Zayne and her five-year-old daughter Ella when the accident happened.
"Ella was in front of me and Zayne was behind me looking at the rocks - he's got a thing about rocks at the moment - from between the railings on the roadside," Tarryn said.
The new path has the road on one side and on the other close bars protecting people from the steep embankment that drops towards the original bush track and ultimately, rocks and the sea.
While the boardwalk appears to be level with the road there are places where wet weather events have gouged out the dirt underneath.
I launched off the boardwalk, slid underneath and followed to grab Zayne. I could see him rolling with blood on his head.
- Tarryn Mitchell
It was at one of these spots that Zayne slid over the edge of the boardwalk and fell underneath onto the steep slope, crying for help and rolling multiple times.
Tarryn went into overdrive.
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"I launched off the boardwalk, slid underneath and followed to grab Zayne. He had hit his head and I could see him rolling with blood on his head," Tarryn said of the terrifying accident.
She was fortunate to be sufficiently agile to get underneath the boardwalk and rescue her son.
"As I got up I saw a car had slammed on its brakes and the driver called out to ask if they could call an ambulance."
Meanwhile a desperately frightened Ella was still on the boardwalk crying.
I got home and just broke down. I can't believe how close I was to losing my son.
- Tarryn Mitchell
Fortunately another family was walking not far away and comforted her. Tarryn met the ambulance at Rotary Park where paramedics told her they had put a helicopter on standby because of the potential for severe injury. Fortunately the helicopter wasn't needed.
Dad Zeb took Ella home while Tarryn and Zayne were taken to South East Regional Hospital. Zayne had a nasty gash on the side of his head but didn't have to have stitches.
"I got home and just broke down. I can't believe how close I was to losing my son. The ambos said Zayne had dodged a bullet and suggested I write to council about it," Tarryn said.
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Denise Dion
Regional daily news journalist on the Far South Coast of NSW. Contact me on 0418 213 780 or at denise.dion@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Regional daily news journalist on the Far South Coast of NSW. Contact me on 0418 213 780 or at denise.dion@austcommunitymedia.com.au
