The son of a reality TV veteran was turned away from hospital during a mental health crisis just days before walking into the path of a train and suffering serious injuries.
Drew Dowsley somehow survived after being hit by the train and remained on the tracks for seven hours before being discovered by emergency services.
He has undergone multiple operations in a Sydney hospital after losing his left hand, injuring his right and suffering a spinal fracture that caused a bleed in the brain.
Drew is the son of Helen Dowsley, a hair and makeup artist who has worked on reality shows such as The Bachelor, Farmer Wants A Wife and The Masked Singer.
Family friend Victoria St John revealed that Drew had been suffering from mental health issues at the time.
“In the days before the accident, Drew was suffering from psychosis and sought help for his mental health at a hospital, but was turned away and told they couldn’t help him unless he hurt himself or someone else,” he said.
“The road to recovery will be long and challenging, both physically and mentally.”
St John said the incident “could have been avoided”.
Drew, son of reality TV make-up artist Helen Dowsley, miraculously survived after being hit by the train and remained on the tracks for seven hours before being discovered by emergency services.
“Drew undergoes surgeries every other day and faces a long recovery from this ordeal,” he said.
Since then he has launched a GoFundMe to cover Drew’s medical bills, with nearly $40,000 raised so far.
“He has shown remarkable resilience, surviving despite serious injuries,” Mrs St John said.
“The road to recovery will be long and challenging, both physically and mentally.”
He praised Drew’s mother for being “kind-hearted and selfless” and “always uplifts others with her positivity.”
“She’s the one who advises us during the dramas of our lives on set, and now it’s our turn to support her and Drew,” he wrote.
“Our goal is to raise $50,000 to help with ongoing medical and legal expenses, as well as to help Helen provide the care Drew needs while balancing her work commitments and caring for her 95-year-old mother.”
Ms Dowsley now commutes daily from the Southern Highlands of New South Wales to Sydney to be at her son’s bedside.
Helen Dowsley (pictured with Abbie Chatfield) has worked on shows including The Bachelor, Farmer Wants A Wife and The Masked Singer.
Australian television stars including Abbie Chatfield have rallied to support Mrs Dowsley and her family following the incident.
Chatfield took to Instagram in tears to explain that Drew had been suffering a psychotic episode for several days before the train incident.
“He showed up at the hospital, but they turned him away because he hadn’t hurt himself or others yet,” she said.
“That night he passed in front of a train and is seriously injured.”
Chatfield described the makeup artist as “the most generous, beautiful woman” and said Dowsley always looked after everyone on set.
He GoFundMe The campaign has since been shared by many of the stars who have worked with Ms Dowsley, including Carla From Bankstown, Alex Nation and Brittney Weldon.
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