The Queensland mother who used her body to shield her baby daughter from hail stones during a supercell storm is being recommended for a bravery award.
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Fiona Simpson had been driving down the D’Aguilar Highway on her way home with her grandmother and daughter Clara on Thursday arvo when the brunt of the storm hit. The storm was so intense, hail stones the size of tennis balls broke through the rear and passenger windows of Simpson’s car.
Simpson told reporters she had not heard the storm warnings but knew to park her car on the side of the road until the storm passed.
Graphic pictures of the aftermath show Simpson’s body covered in bruises and cuts from the hail stones as she used her body to protect her baby.
“I didn’t realise the danger of what hail could do,” Simpson told 9News.
“I jumped in the back seat and just covered her with my body, hoping for it to pass, but it just got heavier and heavier.”
The 23-year-old and her grandmother both suffered severe bruising and cuts and had to stay the night in hospital. Thankfully, little baby Clara got away with only a few minor scratches.
Today, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Simpson is in line for a bravery award.
“We will be recommending her for a bravery award,” the premier said.
In a Facebook status posted on Thursday, Simpson shared her experience, warning, and thanks to all her friends, family, and members of the public.
“I’ve learnt my lesson today, NEVER drive in a hail storm! We parked on the side of the road when the storm got too heavy and the hail blew out our windows. I covered my infant with my body to stop her from getting badly injured.
Please, please be careful in this storm season.”
