THE GOLD Coast man fighting for life after a “road rage” incident was allegedly attacked with a dirty crowbar that has infected his brain.
Brock Prime, 29, was violently attacked, allegedly by a group of up to 13 people at the side of the M1 highway Pimpama and Yatala about 9.45pm on Saturday.
He was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.
His mum Donna Prime has shared with friends the latest advice from the medical teams who are fighting to keep him alive.
The doctors told the devastated family the dirt from the crowbar had infected his brain after the “puncture injury”. It had been cleaned and he was being given antibiotics, but the doctors believe he is at risk of further infection.
The family have been told his brain injury involved swelling, bruising and was life threatening.
Scans over the next 24 hours would determine whether they tried to “slowly wake him up” from his induced coma, or keep him asleep for longer.
Only then would it be clear what sort of recovery would be possible.
Police announced earlier today they had arrested a 26-year-old Surfers Paradise man and 27-year-old Ormeau man and charged them with grievous bodily harm. The group — who had been travelling in a white van — fled the scene before emergency services arrived and police initially appealed to the public for help in finding those responsible.
Jonathan Lawrence, 26, was not present in Beenleigh Magistrates Court during the brief mention today.
His defence made no application for bail and the 26-year-old was remanded in custody and will appear again for mention tomorrow, reported The Gold Coast Bulletin.
Detective Inspector Mark Thompson said the incident began when the van and Mr Prime’s black Subaru Forester came close to colliding on the M1 around Coomera. A “cat and mouse game” then began, with the two vehicles ducking and weaving through traffic in wet conditions on the motorway before they both finally pulled over.
“The actions of both of these vehicles were extremely dangerous,” he told reporters.
Mr Prime’s sister condemned the culprits as cowards.
“I just felt sick to my stomach still thinking about it, how people could to that to such a beautiful person,” Daisy Prime told the Nine Network on Sunday.
“His left side will be like a stroke victim,” Mr Prime’s mother Donna told the Gold Coast Bulletinyesterday.
“Because he’s already had to take a quarter of his brain, five centimetres of his skull was crushed into his brain with dirt and concrete and stuff so they had to remove all that and clean it out so they know it’s already damaged.
“That’s why they know his left side will be done.”
Ms Prime wrote on Facebook today: “We have been so overwhelmed with love and support and can’t believe how many beautiful people are helping in any way they can, so thank you so much it means a lot to us at the moment.”
Mr Prime’s friend Mia Cole said the incident comes just five weeks after the sudden and unexpected death of Mr Prime’s father Darren.
“Brock is his mother, younger brother and sister’s rock and they rely on him heavily especially after the passing of their father,” Ms Cole wrote on a GoFundMe page set up to support the family.
“The back of his skull was caved in and significant brain damage has been done. His femur has a compound fracture and needs massive surgery. Donna is currently out of work trying to deal with the loss of her life partner and father of her children and now will be facing extreme costs, medical bills and the general expenses of life. Donna herself has refused to ask for help but this family needs and deserves all the support they can get and the gratitude can’t even be explained with words.”
Just over $14,000 had been raised by early Monday afternoon.
Detectives have called for anyone who may have witnessed the incident and has not yet contacted them, or has dash cam footage taken in the vicinity of the M1 between Pimpama and Yatala from about 9.30pm to the time of the incident to get in touch.