There has been a huge outpouring of support for young south-west Victorian truck driver Michelle Pillar, who lost both her legs after a horrific accident last week.
Key points:
- A young truck driver is recovering in hospital after losing both her legs following an accident
- Michelle Pillar's community has rallied to raise money for her recovery
- Tens of thousands of dollars has been raised already
The 25-year-old was trapped in her truck for 11 hours before doctors and emergency workers were forced to amputate.
Ms Pillar was driving a livestock carrier when it rolled and became stuck between a tree and a bridge in the Otways.
One of her legs had to be amputated below her knee at the scene to free her from the truck cabin.
Later in hospital, surgeons were forced to amputate her other leg to save her life.
"You can imagine, the poor kid, being stuck there, the stress it would have been causing her at the time," her boss, Anthony Boyle from Boyle's Livestock Transport, said.
Ms Pillar has been on life support but was brought out of her induced coma this week.
While her employer has insurance and other commitments to her, numerous fundraising efforts have sprung up, including a donation tin at the Mortlake Roadhouse, a GoFundMe page, and donations of auction items including cattle and hay.
Collectively, more than $100,000 has been raised to help Ms Pillar in her recovery.
People just want to give
Dion Symons at the Mortlake Roadhouse has taken the lead in coordinating donations, after being approached by truckies Matthew Brown and Jason Keane.
"A few truck drivers have wanted to do something but didn't know how to go about it, so they asked me to do it from here at the roadhouse," he said.
Mr Symons said the response locally, nationally and even internationally through social media, had been overwhelming.
"It's just been bloody crazy, when the two lads came up with the idea, we had no idea the response we'd get," he said.
'"It's so touching, I don't personally know Michelle but right now I feel like I know her brilliantly because I've heard so much about her.
"By all accounts, people tell me she’s one tough cookie and will fight like all hell."
Mr Boyle said Ms Pillar had established a name for herself in the livestock transport industry.
"I was getting phone calls from people saying you can send her back any time, she was marvellous with the cattle and different things like that," he said.
"She's a tough kid, and her family are pretty strong, and with the support of this community, as much as she's an independent person, she's going to need all that support.
"If anyone will do it I believe she we will, and we will be there to help her as much as we can."
Long road ahead
Mr Boyle said Ms Pillar was heavily sedated but recovering as well as could be expected.
"Her body is recovering well … and it is just a matter of rest from all of those operations at the moment and in time she will be able to rebuild and get back to some form of a normal life," he said.