Gold Coast cyclist Suzy Wallace dies two days after fighting for life from Coolangatta crash

[Guest Nicole]

 

CYCLIST Suzy Wallace has died two days after a shocking collision with a ute at Coolangatta near Snapper Rocks.

Ms Wallace passed away at midnight surrounded by family.

On Wednesday when Suzy Wallace set out on a morning ride, friends and family had no idea the next time they saw her she would be fighting for her life.

The fit 47-year-old was cycling near Snapper Rocks at Coolangatta when she was struck by a ute and flung from her bike.

he was at the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition, on life support, for two days before her death but her loved ones say they have already forgiven the young driver

Ms WallaceÂ’s husband of 27 years, Scott Wallace, has not left her side since she was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital early on Wednesday with head, chest and pelvic injuries.

Doctors warned family and friends to be prepared, with no improvement in Ms WallaceÂ’s condition.

Close family friend Brett Wagner was among those at Ms WallaceÂ’s bedside.

Yesterday he described Mr Wallace as a “broken man”.

The couple are well-known in the southern Gold Coast community and are both members of the Palm Beach JehovahÂ’s Witness congregation.

“He is shattered but he is being very strong,” Mr Wagner said.

Mr Wagner said the accident was a series of “unfortunate events”.

“No one blames the driver, if anything we feel sorry for him,” he said.

“They were just the wrong seconds that happened at the wrong place.”

JehovahÂ’s Witnesses do not believe in accepting blood transfusions. Mr Wagner said he could not comment on that and it had been a discussion for her immediate family.

Mr Wagner said he went numb when he walked into the hospital room and saw Ms Wallace in the bed.

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[Guest Nicole]

Gold Coast cyclist fatally injured in Coolangatta accident donates organs to strangers

NOTHING could be done to save Suzy Wallace’s life this week — but she’s already saving others.

“(Her husband) Scott knew she wanted to be an organ donor and was adamant he wanted to carry out her wishes,” Mathew Gilbertson said of the remarkable legacy of his sister-in-law in the wake of the cycling accident that left her with devastating head injuries.

“Hopefully that means there are one, two or even more people experiencing extra hope on the back of this tragedy.

“Suzy and Scott were very, very close and the important thing is they had conversations in good times about what to do in bad times.”

These are, in fact, the worst of times for Scott Wallace, the Burleigh builder whose perfect world started crumbling the moment his phone rang on Wednesday morning.

“He knew it was a bad one as soon as he heard the woman’s voice,” Mathew says of how his wife’s brother learned the love of his life had been in a serious cycling accident.

Having missed her regular group ride the previous morning, the 47-year-old decided to head out on her own and, as she rode down a steep incline on Coolangatta’s Marine Pde about 6.10am, chance intervened in the form of a white ute turning across her path.

“She had her medical card and phone in her cycling gear and we’re so appreciative that a passer-by phoned Scott,” Mathew explains.

“He headed straight down, as did his father and my wife (Scott’s sister Andrea), but no one really knew what they were headed for. It was quite confronting and we’re so grateful to all those people who stopped to help her.

“When Andrea described what she saw on the side of the road, I didn’t think it was going to end well. The hospital did an outstanding job looking after her but I’m convinced nothing could have been done to change the result.”

For two long days, countless friends and family made the trek to Gold Coast University Hospital to say their goodbyes and share memories of a woman who touched so many lives.

Originally from Mt Isa, Suzy was a teen when she met, fell in love and married her man.

The couple initially called Townsville home, then Cairns, before making a life on the Gold Coast about two decades ago.

Raised in an artistic family, she had founded a successful jewellery design business.

Fitness enthusiasts, the couple were popular faces among the cycling fraternity.

As Jehovah’s Witnesses, they also had their faith.

“Our view is very strong that Suzy is asleep in death but she’s not in pain,” Mathew explains. “She’s awaiting the resurrection that the Bible promises.

“Our whole family is very strong on that.”

As they are on the power of forgiveness.

“I know from the TV footage we’ve seen the poor young fella is beside himself,” Mathew says of the 29-year-old man who is believed to have been blinded by the sun prior to the collision.

“I don’t even know if he knows Suzy is gone yet and that will not be easy to live with, but there was no intent.

“We’re not interested in consequences or penalties. It’s two lives that have changed forever.”

And one that will never be forgotten.

“The outpouring of love we’re getting shows we’ve lost an amazing person,” Mathew says.

“Her generosity, friendliness and the happiness she exhibited at all times are the three things that keep getting mentioned time and again.”

OUR SUZY

Brother-in-law Mathew Gilbertson on:

Family: “While Suzy didn’t have children of her own, she had so much love for her nieces and nephews. They’re all massively impacted by what’s happened.”

Religion: “As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we do refuse blood transfusions on scriptural reasons but that wasn’t a factor in this case. Blood couldn’t have saved Suzy. She had a significant brain injury and the idea that treatment affected the outcome is just not true.”

Chance: “My 10-year-old daughter said maybe Suzy wouldn’t have gone for a ride if something different had happened the day before. I had to explain that Suzy was in that place at that moment because of everything that has happened in her 40-odd years. It was just a horrible intersection of time.”

Life: “Suzy had a great impact in every aspect of her life, be it through art and jewellery, cycling or the people in her volunteer ministry and congregation. The touching messages people are posting on her Facebook page give an indication of the person she was.”

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[Guest Nicole]

Suzy Wallace met and fell in love with future husband Scott as a teenager.