- Dawn Fraser suffered serious injuries in a fall last week
- The Australian won eight Olympic medals in a groundbreaking career
Dawn Fraser’s daughter has opened up about the question doctors asked her following the Olympic legend’s fall last week as she gave an uplifting update on her mother’s condition.
The three-time Olympian, who now lives in Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, suffered “multiple” injuries last week when she tripped in a newly renovated driveway after eye surgery, including four broken ribs, a severed arm and a fracture. hip
The 87-year-old man was admitted to hospital last Wednesday and underwent emergency hip replacement surgery the following day.
Her daughter Dawn-Lorraine Fraser says her mother “scared us to death” and is “much better” now after doctors asked if the swimming icon should be resuscitated if there were problems with the operation.
“It’s been scary, it’s been terrifying. I thought we were going to lose her and the doctor told me we were probably going to have to face that and I couldn’t face it,” she said.
“Because even though she is my mother, I have always considered her invincible.”
Dawn-Lorraine Fraser (pictured right with her mother Dawn) says her mother “scared the hell out of us” with her recent accident.
The swimming legend, 87, suffered multiple injuries, including broken ribs and a broken hip, when he fell at his Queensland home last week.
Fraser revealed she was shocked when doctors asked her if they should resuscitate her mother if something went wrong.
‘I said, are you serious? Are you asking me this question? Don’t you know my mother? she said.
“That’s the worst question anyone could ask you when you’re not ready for it, and I was like, yeah, you’re going to resurrect her, my mom is a fighter, and you’re going to make sure you do everything you can to save her.”
Fraser said her mother is already up and walking, and doctors told her to slow down because she was moving too fast.
She also revealed that the hip bone her mother broke is “particularly dangerous to operate on,” so they opted to replace it.
On Tuesday, Australian swimmer Lani Pallister spoke of her concern for her godmother and admitted Fraser’s health scare had been “scary”.
Pallister and her mother Janelle, who is in Budapest coaching at the Short Course World Championships, issued a statement expressing their “deep and heartfelt concern over the recent Dawn incident.”
“Hearing about his fall has been stressful and terrifying, given the relationship we share,” they said.
Dawn Fraser’s goddaughter Lani Pallister (pictured left with Fraser) has spoken of her “sincere concern” following the Olympic legend’s downfall.
Dawn Fraser was 19 years old when she competed in her first Olympic Games in Melbourne.
‘Dawn is not only an extraordinary athlete and icon, she is an incredibly special part of our lives and her well-being is always in our thoughts, regardless of any injury or illness she may face.
“We are relieved to know that he is doing well and is receiving the care he needs from his family and the hospital staff.”
Fraser, who won gold in the 100-meter freestyle at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Games, is widely considered one of the greatest swimmers of all time.
The eight-time Olympic medalist was the first athlete, male or female, to win gold in the same event in three consecutive Olympic Games.
Fraser was named Australian Athlete of the Century by the Australian Sports Hall of Fame, who also inducted her as its first female inductee in 1985.