Julie-Ann Twigg
Jacinda Twigg got on with life despite her pain only to die in a plane crash.
The plane crashed into a paddock in Wallup in bad weather.
Picture: Jon Hargest
The mother of a girl who was killed in a light plane crash in western Victoria two weeks ago has died in hospital in Melbourne this morning, just hours before her daughter was due to be buried in their hometown.
Julie-Ann Twigg was critically injured in the Angel Flight crash that killed her 15-year-old daughter Jacinda and the plane’s pilot, Don Kernot two weeks ago.
As the small town of Nhill, in western Victoria, prepared to farewell Jacinda at a funeral this afternoon, the Twigg family confirmed that Mrs Twigg had died in the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Mrs Twigg, 43, suffered critical head and chest injuries in the August 15 crash and was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Last week her condition improved from critical to serious, however at the time her husband Len Twigg said she was still to undergo a number of surgeries.
He said his wife had woken from the coma and asked about Jacinda, but he did not want to tell his wife that their daughter was dead until after she had undergone further surgery.
He suspected his wife knew that Jacinda had died, he said.
"I think she does. She did ask me," Mr Twigg said.
"I don’t want to tell her yet because when she has the operation she will be obviously put back under quite heavily and then when she comes back again we’ll probably have to tell her again. I just want to try and wait and tell her one time so we can grieve together and she won’t have to go through more pain than she has to."
Jacinda and Mr Kernot were killed instantly when the light plane that had transported Jacinda to a medical appointment in Melbourne crashed in a paddock at Wallup, about 40 kms north of Horsham, on August 15.
A farmer called triple-0 about 6.30pm after seeing a low-flying plane and then hearing a loud crash, and the wreckage was found two hours later.
Jacinda was taking her 20th trip with the Angel Flight charity to receive treatment for juvenile arthritis when the plane crashed in a paddock at Wallup, near Horsham, on August 15.
Mourners were gathering to farewell Jacinda at a funeral to be held this afternoon from 2pm.
A memorial service was held last week at her secondary school.
On a Facebook page dedicated to Mrs Twigg, family and friends have begun paying tribute to the 43-year-old.
‘‘Well Julie has found her peace and passed away this morning, glad that she will be with beautiful Jacinda, so sad for Len on an already sad day xxx,’’ wrote Shirley Twigg.
‘‘Thank you for all the prayers and love and light, I know we all helped make Julie’s journey a little better and gave the family some peace during a sad sad time, I’m glad we kept the faith and hope, and I’m so thankful that Len had some time with the love of his life.’’
Dean Miller, the chief executive of the local shire council said it was an absolute tragedy.
‘‘All the signs indicated that she was pulling through and becoming more alert, for this to happen on the day of the funeral is an absolute tragedy,’’ he said.
Ms Twigg’s husband Len worked at the Hindmarsh Shire Council.
With Paul Millar
Source: http://www.theage.com.au
