My sister Natasha was a passenger in a taxi (2am), coming home after celebrating a friends birthday in Melbourne city when she was struck in the side of her head with a golf ball which we must assume was thrown at the taxi. She was travelling along Sanctuary Lakes Dr past the golf course, between the roundabouts of Greg Norman Dr & Tournament Dr when this occurred.
Being only 1 minute from home the taxi dropped her off and phoned the police. The police called the ambulance and shortly after they arrived. They checked her over quickly and asked if she would like to go to hospital but reminded her she could be waiting all night to see a doctor. Being obviously concussed and in shock she said she would rather sleep and go to the medical centre the next day. The ambulance officers then left.
After Natasha told me what happened the next day and how she was very tired, in a lot of pain and could not hear out of her left ear, I advised her to go immediately to the nearest hospital. This happened to be Werribee Hospital where they immediately took her in via emergency department. They did an X-ray and found she had a fractured skull. She was then transferred by ambulance to St.Vincents Hospital in the city where she was operated on by a Neurosurgeon who had to place a plate in her skull where the golf ball struck her.
We were hoping she would be coming home from hospital today but as shards of bone pierced the lining of her brain she still has leakage and doctors are now worried she may develop Meningococcal so they will have to keep her closely monitored.
I feel it is important for the community to know this has happened. They need to be aware of the type of scum that reside in their area and that they must take precautions at all times in all situations.
This may have been just kids mucking around but this sort of behaviour can lead to more serious crime if left unchecked. Where are the parents letting their kids roam the streets at the early hours of the morning?
I also want the kids who threw that ball to know what they have done and what grief and stress has been cause to all our family and friends now and may very well cause into the future depending on how well Natasha recovers.
We can only hope this message gets through to them and they realise and correct their damaging ways.
If anyone has any information regarding this matter please contact Werribee Police on (03) 97429444
This letter was sent to
The Editor, Wyndham Leader
PO Box 2155
Spotswood
VIC
3015
On behalf of;
Natasha Cossell
3 Morning Cl
Point Cook
VIC
3030
4th March 2010