Car crash victims thank community

A couple have given heartfelt thanks to the Karratha community after countless residents and businesses gave a helping hand in the aftermath of their car crash recently near Pannawonica.

Patricia and Vincent Bennett, who had been travelling to the area for 25 years, and have been involved in the Karratha community, were towing a caravan to 40 Mile from their home in Capel south of Bunbury when Ms Bennett said they rolled their car.

Both were miraculously alive and not too severely injured.

Ms Bennett was saved from further injury thanks to the boat on top of their car cushioning the car when it rolled, and was attended to by a nurse who was passing by with her family.

Another man who had been travelling behind the pair stopped immediately to help, and ended up looking after their dog when it couldn’t be taken in the ambulance.

Unfortunately, while they were in Karratha being treated, the couple’s caravan and car were looted.

However a surprise message was waiting at their motel — a passing Onslow courier had picked up an outboard motor and a generator and given them to police before they could be stolen.

Ms Bennett said the biggest surprise was when they were sitting in the hotel and a knock came on the door.

“It was a lady named Rhondah… she says I’m here and I’m here to help you, and no matter what you want to do, I’m here for you … and I thought ‘who is this woman who has come to help us?’ I wouldn’t know her from a bar of soap,” she said. “She’s my angel. I wouldn’t have survived without her.”

Ms Bennett said there were so many people to thank: the ambulance drivers, police, hospital staff, Karratha Motel staff, Karratha Panel and Paint as well as the people across the road from KPP who donated packing boxes, the post office, the attendant at North West Communications, and everyone who on hearing the story has offered their help in any way.

“We were sitting there writing a list out and we thought ‘where do we start, who do you thank, how do you thank these people for their generosity’,” she said. “So from the bottom of my heart I thank everyone and I thank Karratha.”